--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It isn't expectations that carry us…" description: "\"It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.\" — Paulo Coelho" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg" --- # It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our… ![“It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg) > “It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire, not expectations, propels us forward; ambition fuels progress more than passive hopes. **In simple terms:** Desire drives us more than expectations. Key Takeaway Cultivate strong desire to achieve goals. Themes motivation ambition progress Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - creative pursuits Key Concepts self‑determination goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - What desire can you nurture today? - How do expectations limit you? A Different Perspective Desire alone may not overcome external obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brida/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ## Related quotes > [“It isn'y explanations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-y-explanations-that-carry-us-forward-it-s-our-desire-to-go-on/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Two sons, they'll both be presidents after they win their Nobel Prizes. And the daughters, they'll be prima ballerinas before they become the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/two-sons-they-ll-both-be-presidents-after-they-win-their-nobel-prizes/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you - all of the expectations, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/healing-may-not-be-so-much-about-getting-better-as-about-letting-go/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [“It’s our memories that bind us, but it’s who we are now that will carry us forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-scott/it-s-our-memories-that-bind-us-but-it-s-who-we-are-now-that-will/) [S.L. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-scott/) > [“The clock ticks; the taunting rhythm serving as a reminder that forward is the only way we can go. The mechanical heartbeat of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-clock-ticks-the-taunting-rhythm-serving-as-a-reminder-that/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Sometimes, certain of God's blessings arrive by shattering all the windows. (Brida)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/sometimes-certain-of-god-s-blessings-arrive-by-shattering-all-the-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [But how will I know who my Soulmate is? Brida felt that this was one of the most important questions she had ever asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-how-will-i-know-who-my-soulmate-is-brida-felt-that-this-was-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“his heart was afraid. As he looked up at the clouds or down at the precipice, he realised that this woman was the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/his-heart-was-afraid-as-he-looked-up-at-the-clouds-or-down-at-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“During sex, it is very difficult to deceive the other person because that is when each person shows who they really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/during-sex-it-is-very-difficult-to-deceive-the-other-person-because/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Don't you think you're quite young?' 'I'm twenty-one,' said Brida. 'If I wanted to start learning ballet, I'd be conseidered too old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-you-think-you-re-quite-young-i-m-twenty-one-said-brida-if-i/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [And they will return one day knowing the miracle of the heavens and of all the world. God knew what he was doing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/and-they-will-return-one-day-knowing-the-miracle-of-the-heavens-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/fear-of-suffering-is-worse-than-the-suffering-itself/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The path to wisdom is not being afraid to make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-path-to-wisdom-is-not-being-afraid-to-make-mistakes/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Brida’s eyes filled with tears. She was proud of her Soulmate. That is what the forest taught me. That you will never be mine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/brida-s-eyes-filled-with-tears-she-was-proud-of-her-soulmate-that-is/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You can only know a good wine if you have first tasted a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-can-only-know-a-good-wine-if-you-have-first-tasted-a-bad-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Brida quotes > [You can only know a good wine if you have first tasted a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-can-only-know-a-good-wine-if-you-have-first-tasted-a-bad-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Brida’s eyes filled with tears. She was proud of her Soulmate. That is what the forest taught me. That you will never be mine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/brida-s-eyes-filled-with-tears-she-was-proud-of-her-soulmate-that-is/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The path to wisdom is not being afraid to make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-path-to-wisdom-is-not-being-afraid-to-make-mistakes/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/fear-of-suffering-is-worse-than-the-suffering-itself/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [And they will return one day knowing the miracle of the heavens and of all the world. God knew what he was doing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/and-they-will-return-one-day-knowing-the-miracle-of-the-heavens-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Do you think God knew what he was doing when he created woman?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/do-you-think-god-knew-what-he-was-doing-when-he-created-woman/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Don't you think you're quite young?' 'I'm twenty-one,' said Brida. 'If I wanted to start learning ballet, I'd be conseidered too old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-you-think-you-re-quite-young-i-m-twenty-one-said-brida-if-i/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“During sex, it is very difficult to deceive the other person because that is when each person shows who they really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/during-sex-it-is-very-difficult-to-deceive-the-other-person-because/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“his heart was afraid. As he looked up at the clouds or down at the precipice, he realised that this woman was the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/his-heart-was-afraid-as-he-looked-up-at-the-clouds-or-down-at-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [But how will I know who my Soulmate is? Brida felt that this was one of the most important questions she had ever asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-how-will-i-know-who-my-soulmate-is-brida-felt-that-this-was-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Sometimes, certain of God's blessings arrive by shattering all the windows. (Brida)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/sometimes-certain-of-god-s-blessings-arrive-by-shattering-all-the-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [But if you've ever felt love, you'll know how painful it is to suffer for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-if-you-ve-ever-felt-love-you-ll-know-how-painful-it-is-to-suffer/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [As he looked up at the clouds or down at the precipice, he realized that this woman was the most important thing in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/as-he-looked-up-at-the-clouds-or-down-at-the-precipice-he-realized/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Remember, the first road to God is prayer, the second is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/remember-the-first-road-to-god-is-prayer-the-second-is-joy/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Choosing a path means having to miss out on others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/choosing-a-path-means-having-to-miss-out-on-others/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Browse all 23 Brida quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brida/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paulo Coelho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forward-it-s-our-desire-to-go-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brida" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forward-it-s-our-desire-to-go-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f7/paulo-coelho-10_brida_it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forw_2114307.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It isn't expectations that carry us forward, it's our desire to go on.” — Paulo Coelho", "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": "Paulo Coelho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It isn't expectations that carry us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forward-it-s-our-desire-to-go-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-expectations-that-carry-us-forward-it-s-our-desire-to-go-on/#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 } } ] } ```