--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experience is what you get when you…" description: "\"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.\" — Randy Pausch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png" --- # Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you… ![“Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png) > “Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When outcomes differ from expectations, the experience teaches valuable lessons about resilience and adaptation. **In simple terms:** Disappointment teaches resilience. Key Takeaway Learn from unmet expectations. Themes growth resilience learning Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal goals - relationship challenges Key Concepts psychology expectation management Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn from the setback? - How can you apply this lesson forward? A Different Perspective Focusing on failure can diminish confidence; balance reflection with positivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ## Related quotes > [I DIDN'T WANTED ANYTHING FROM YOU I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE THERE TO SHARE MY HAPPINESS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjana/i-didn-t-wanted-anything-from-you-i-just-wanted-you-to-be-there-to/) ANJANA > [Maybe I wanted children, maybe I didn't, but I wanted the decision to be a choice, not a mandate. Last time I checked, childlessness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-orenstein/maybe-i-wanted-children-maybe-i-didn-t-but-i-wanted-the-decision-to/) [Peggy Orenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-orenstein/) > [There is a woman who swam around Manhattan, and I asked her, why? She said, it hadn't ever been done before. Well, she didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/there-is-a-woman-who-swam-around-manhattan-and-i-asked-her-why-she/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I had a pursuit different from others because they all came from downtown areas with money, but I didn't have any. All I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhou-qunfei/i-had-a-pursuit-different-from-others-because-they-all-came-from/) [Zhou Qunfei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhou-qunfei/) > [I waited at the counter of a white restaurant for eleven years. When they finally integrated, they didn't have what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/i-waited-at-the-counter-of-a-white-restaurant-for-eleven-years-when/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [At home, growing up, we weren't really poor. We had everything we needed, we just didn't have what we wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/at-home-growing-up-we-weren-t-really-poor-we-had-everything-we-needed/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“If motherhood doesn't interest you, don't do it. It didn't interest me, so I didn't do it. Anyway, I would have made a terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/if-motherhood-doesn-t-interest-you-don-t-do-it-it-didn-t-interest-me/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [I'm sorry," I say. "I didn't give you everything you wanted. I wasn't everything you wanted. You were everything I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/i-m-sorry-i-say-i-didn-t-give-you-everything-you-wanted-i-wasn-t/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [“Sometimes, you didn’t get what you wanted. But if you had all you needed? Life was good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/sometimes-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted-but-if-you-had-all-you/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He didn't ask because he didn't wanted to know. If you know, moments die an instant death. She held his hand in hers; hiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aporvakala/he-didn-t-ask-because-he-didn-t-wanted-to-know-if-you-know-moments/) APORVAKALA > [I didn't go to L.A. because I wanted to move to California. I went to L.A. to work as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-didn-t-go-to-l-a-because-i-wanted-to-move-to-california-i-went-to-l/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) > [“It seemed I was torn; I wanted my goodbye, and I didn't. I wanted him to make me stay, and I wanted to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mariano/it-seemed-i-was-torn-i-wanted-my-goodbye-and-i-didn-t-i-wanted-him-to/) Sam Mariano > [It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlement-both-parties-didn-t-get/) [David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/) > [“Why go out looking perfect and put together? It means you didn’t experience anything. You didn’t take any risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/why-go-out-looking-perfect-and-put-together-it-means-you-didn-t/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [While I didn't have everything that I wanted, I was still a happy kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/while-i-didn-t-have-everything-that-i-wanted-i-was-still-a-happy-kid/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randy Pausch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/randy-pausch-842_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2629685.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.” — Randy Pausch", "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": "Randy Pausch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Experience is what you get when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/#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 } } ] } ```