--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be…" description: "\"“Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be surprised that no one expected it.”\" — Rebecca Maizel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/rebecca-maizel-21791_confidence_don-t-be-surprised-by-your-greatness-be_1436601.jpg" --- # Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be surprised that no… ![“Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be surprised that no one expected it.” quote by Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/rebecca-maizel-21791_confidence_don-t-be-surprised-by-your-greatness-be_1436601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/rebecca-maizel-21791_confidence_don-t-be-surprised-by-your-greatness-be_1436601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/rebecca-maizel-21791_confidence_don-t-be-surprised-by-your-greatness-be_1436601.jpg) > ““Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be surprised that no one expected it.”” [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness often goes unnoticed; surprise lies in others’ low expectations. **In simple terms:** Greatness is unexpected. Key Takeaway Stay humble, exceed expectations. Themes greatness expectations humility surprise Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - personal goals - leadership Key Concepts psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What drives your hidden potential? - How do you handle unexpected praise? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may arise from surprise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/don-t-be-surprised-if-i-love-you-for-all-that-you-are/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [A day doesn't go by where I don't get surprised by something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/a-day-doesn-t-go-by-where-i-don-t-get-surprised-by-something/) [Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/) > [If you're not giving it your ALL don't be surprised at your results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-re-not-giving-it-your-all-don-t-be-surprised-at-your-results/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Don't be surprised if I Love you for aLL that you are, I couLdn't heLp it, it's aLL your fauLt..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/don-t-be-surprised-if-i-love-you-for-all-that-you-are-i-couldn-t-help/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [If you tie your own shoelaces together, don't be surprised when you fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-tie-your-own-shoelaces-together-don-t-be-surprised-when-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you judge me by my past, don't be surprised when you become part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-judge-me-by-my-past-don-t-be-surprised-when-you-become-part-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be surprised when I disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-surprised-when-i-disappear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you do everything without God, don't be surprised when nothing turns out right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-do-everything-without-god-don-t-be-surprised-when-nothing/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [We are changed souls; we don't look at things the same way anymore. For there was a time when we expected the worst. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/we-are-changed-souls-we-don-t-look-at-things-the-same-way-anymore-for/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Some friends said they weren't surprised to find out Napoleon and I were related, but it came as quite a shock to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/some-friends-said-they-weren-t-surprised-to-find-out-napoleon-and-i/) [Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) ## More by Rebecca Maizel > [“Lenah?" "Yeah?" I replied. "Will you go to winter prom with me?" "Of course," I whispered, sure I would fall asleep in moments. "Justin?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/lenah-yeah-i-replied-will-you-go-to-winter-prom-with-me-of-course-i/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“This love is so deep it cannot be undone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/this-love-is-so-deep-it-cannot-be-undone/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“I would scream for you if you would hear me. I would burn this place to the ground if it meant you would see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/i-would-scream-for-you-if-you-would-hear-me-i-would-burn-this-place/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“I believe I met a girl in the rain, who had lost her mother's earrings. And I killed her. Now I stand here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/i-believe-i-met-a-girl-in-the-rain-who-had-lost-her-mother-s-earrings/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“Let's chow, and then we'll get our books," Tony said. Just as the door was about to close behind us, he added, "You act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/let-s-chow-and-then-we-ll-get-our-books-tony-said-just-as-the-door/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“So I am your distraction?" "You," He said,his face coming within inches of mine, " Are my only hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/so-i-am-your-distraction-you-he-said-his-face-coming-within-inches-of/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“How many memories can come through at once before they are just jumbled words and faces mixed together by years of pain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/how-many-memories-can-come-through-at-once-before-they-are-just/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“Library? That sounded reasonable. As my thoughts revolved around my days surrounded by books, something miraculous happened. My anger subsided. It ebbed away as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/library-that-sounded-reasonable-as-my-thoughts-revolved-around-my/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“I loved so many things about him: that his fingers were always stained with paint or charcoal; his casual sense of humor and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/i-loved-so-many-things-about-him-that-his-fingers-were-always-stained/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“The absence of you ruined my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/the-absence-of-you-ruined-my-life/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“Having an adventure?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/having-an-adventure/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“Once a vampire falls in love, they are bound to that love. They will always love that person, no matter what happens. They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/once-a-vampire-falls-in-love-they-are-bound-to-that-love-they-will/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“Time does not tick on for the dead. After we die, we cannot keep it. It is the master of the living. For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/time-does-not-tick-on-for-the-dead-after-we-die-we-cannot-keep-it-it/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“I'm going to kiss you now,' I whispered. Rhode lifted his eyes to mine. 'I was hoping you would say that,' he whispered back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/i-m-going-to-kiss-you-now-i-whispered-rhode-lifted-his-eyes-to-mine-i/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [“You did this on purpose," I said to Justin as the man continued to strap me in. "Maybe," he said. "What is it you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/you-did-this-on-purpose-i-said-to-justin-as-the-man-continued-to/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) [Explore all 28 Rebecca Maizel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Don’t be surprised by your greatness. 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