---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never expected that. I didn't aim for…"
description: "\"I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.\" — O. Winston Link"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg"
---

#  I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted…

![“I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.” quote by O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg)

> “I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.”

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Seeking simple beauty can lead to unexpected, profound results beyond original intent.

**In simple terms:** Unexpected outcomes can be rewarding.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity and let projects evolve.

Themes

creativity serendipity photography goal setting

Mood

inspired thoughtful

Type

observational inspirational

When to use this quote

- travel photography
- night shoots
- documentary work
- personal projects

Key Concepts

artistic vision chance process

Questions to Reflect On

- What unexpected result have you cherished?
- How can you stay open to change?

A Different Perspective

Original goals may shift, causing disappointment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Expected Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-didn-2945655/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Nice picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-picture/) [Nice Pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-pictures-221372/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures/) [Pictures Trains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures-trains-2945654/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Trains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trains/) [Trains Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trains-night-2945653/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/)

## Related quotes

> [All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/all-i-wanted-was-to-get-some-nice-pictures-of-trains-at-night/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [The fall of the Berlin Wall makes for nice pictures. But it all started in the shipyards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall-makes-for-nice-pictures-but-it-all/)

[Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/)

> [Is it crazy that George Bush, ex-President of America, now paints pictures of dogs? Tiny, little, nice pictures of dogs, after all the suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-regbo/is-it-crazy-that-george-bush-ex-president-of-america-now-paints/)

[Toby Regbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-regbo/)

> [Saying a camera takes nice pictures is like saying a guitar plays nice melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-rowse/saying-a-camera-takes-nice-pictures-is-like-saying-a-guitar-plays/)

[Darren Rowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-rowse/)

> [People suddenly expected less of me and I didn't want that. Not only could I keep up with sighted kids, I could excel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-runyan/people-suddenly-expected-less-of-me-and-i-didn-t-want-that-not-only/)

[Marla Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-runyan/)

> [Never expected to have you, I didn't have a clue, you came out of the blue, just hope your love is true, best wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-huerbana/never-expected-to-have-you-i-didn-t-have-a-clue-you-came-out-of-the/)

[Romeo Huerbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-huerbana/)

> [I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva enough to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and-that-s-what-i-expected-i-didn/)

[Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/)

> [I want a nice picture book with 12 pictures - I do my best with that format.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bruna/i-want-a-nice-picture-book-with-12-pictures-i-do-my-best-with-that/)

[Dick Bruna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bruna/)

> [Know what you're trying to do before you do it. Turning knobs at random isn't enlightening any more than throwing paint at a wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-albini/know-what-you-re-trying-to-do-before-you-do-it-turning-knobs-at/)

[Steve Albini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-albini/)

> [Sometimes you don't know if your memory is because you really experienced it or because you look at your old pictures. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/sometimes-you-don-t-know-if-your-memory-is-because-you-really/)

[Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/)

> [“Sat in the Jacuzzi last night looking at the dark recesses of the nozzles. Remembering the story I wrote about spiders nesting there. Multifaceted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-leckman/sat-in-the-jacuzzi-last-night-looking-at-the-dark-recesses-of-the/)

[Neil Leckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-leckman/)

> [It's nice to be in a picture that's doing business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/it-s-nice-to-be-in-a-picture-that-s-doing-business/)

[Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/)

> [Frame in terms of what you want to have in the picture, not about making a nice picture, that anybody can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/frame-in-terms-of-what-you-want-to-have-in-the-picture-not-about/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [“. . . Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/practice-any-art-music-singing-dancing-acting-drawing-painting/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [It is, because you've got a nice picture, you want to put it up, and then you're like, 'Do I want this to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-keegan/it-is-because-you-ve-got-a-nice-picture-you-want-to-put-it-up-and/)

[Michelle Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-keegan/)

## More by O. Winston Link

> [The locomotives are black. The coal is black. The tracks are black. The night is black. So what am I going to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/the-locomotives-are-black-the-coal-is-black-the-tracks-are-black-the/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [I was strong and healthy and I was enjoying what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-was-strong-and-healthy-and-i-was-enjoying-what-i-was-doing/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [ The smoke and the fire and the speed, the action and the sound, and everything that goes together, \[the steam engine\] is the most… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/the-smoke-and-the-fire-and-the-speed-the-action-and-the-sound-and/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/all-i-wanted-was-to-get-some-nice-pictures-of-trains-at-night/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [I was one man and I tackled a big railroad. I did the best I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-was-one-man-and-i-tackled-a-big-railroad-i-did-the-best-i-could/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [You can't move the sun, and you can't even move the tracks, so you have to do something else to better light the engines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/you-can-t-move-the-sun-and-you-can-t-even-move-the-tracks-so-you-have/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [You can show me some stick ice cream and I can tell you if it's good or not just looking at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/you-can-show-me-some-stick-ice-cream-and-i-can-tell-you-if-it-s-good/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

> [Winston, I don't know what I want, but I want you to go out and get it. When I see it, I'll know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/winston-i-don-t-know-what-i-want-but-i-want-you-to-go-out-and-get-it/)

[O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

[Explore all 9 O. Winston Link quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/)

## More Aim quotes

> [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/)

[William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/)

> [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/)

[Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/)

> [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/)

[Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/)

> [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/)

[Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/)

> [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/)

[Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/)

> [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/)

[Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/)

> [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

> [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/)

[Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/)

> [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/)

[Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/)

> [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "O. Winston Link"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aim"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/o-winston-link-44323_aim_i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-t_310285.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.” — O. Winston Link",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "O. Winston Link",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never expected that. I didn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
