--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anticipating pain was like enduring it…" description: "\"Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?\" — Robin Hobb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/robin-hobb-489_anticipate_anticipating-pain-was-like-enduring-it-t_2513230.jpg" --- # Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not… ![“Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?” quote by Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/robin-hobb-489_anticipate_anticipating-pain-was-like-enduring-it-t_2513230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/robin-hobb-489_anticipate_anticipating-pain-was-like-enduring-it-t_2513230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/robin-hobb-489_anticipate_anticipating-pain-was-like-enduring-it-t_2513230.jpg) > “Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?” [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anticipating pain doubles suffering; anticipating pleasure can reduce it. **In simple terms:** Expecting pain hurts more; expect pleasure instead. Key Takeaway Shift focus to positive outcomes. Themes mindset anticipation well‑being Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - mental health Key Concepts cognitive reframing positive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you train yourself to anticipate pleasure? - When might anticipating pain be useful? A Different Perspective Pleasure anticipation may be unrealistic in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [“To lead, one must anticipate those that would attempt to stand in your way. By planning smarter, anticipating, and leaving nothing to chance, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-walker/to-lead-one-must-anticipate-those-that-would-attempt-to-stand-in-your/) [Kelly Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-walker/) > [One must plan for the future and anticipate the future without fearing the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/one-must-plan-for-the-future-and-anticipate-the-future-without/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [Maintain an attitude of anticipating success!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tae-yun-kim/maintain-an-attitude-of-anticipating-success/) [Tae Yun Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tae-yun-kim/) > [“Anticipating is expectation," I said. "It's the mystery of not knowing, and the heightening of all a woman's senses. Anticipation draws out the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-luke/anticipating-is-expectation-i-said-it-s-the-mystery-of-not-knowing/) [Jason Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-luke/) > [“Anticipating the worst doesn’t provide insurance from the worst happening,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/anticipating-the-worst-doesn-t-provide-insurance-from-the-worst/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [One of the greatest things in human life is the ability to make plans. Even if they never come true-the joy of anticipating is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-von-trapp/one-of-the-greatest-things-in-human-life-is-the-ability-to-make-plans/) [Maria von Trapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-von-trapp/) > [“Anticipating God's blessings is a great way to begin a new week! When we look for the things that could go wrong, we just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-k-chamberlain/anticipating-god-s-blessings-is-a-great-way-to-begin-a-new-week-when/) Diane K Chamberlain > [I don't seem to have ever had a plan, but I have always been quite good at walking through doors when they are opened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-don-t-seem-to-have-ever-had-a-plan-but-i-have-always-been-quite/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [The wise man avoids evil by anticipating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-wise-man-avoids-evil-by-anticipating-it/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [People are anticipating my next move, and whatever it's going to be, it's going to be big. I'm not fussy over my opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-till/people-are-anticipating-my-next-move-and-whatever-it-s-going-to-be-it/) [Darren Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-till/) > [It takes a little time, but the pleasures of cooking begin before the pleasures of the palate, and preparing means anticipating ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/it-takes-a-little-time-but-the-pleasures-of-cooking-begin-before-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them is actually the opposite of worrying: it's productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/anticipating-problems-and-figuring-out-how-to-solve-them-is-actually/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [I get off on anticipating and waiting much more than I get off on the actual event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-get-off-on-anticipating-and-waiting-much-more-than-i-get-off-on-the/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [He's started anticipating what's going to happen before it's even happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-le-saux/he-s-started-anticipating-what-s-going-to-happen-before-it-s-even/) [Graeme Le Saux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-le-saux/) > [I wish I could stop anticipating the future and enjoy life at this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-i-could-stop-anticipating-the-future-and-enjoy-life-at-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robin Hobb > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I tried to leave you alone, Fitz. To find what peace you could, even if it excluded me from your life.” Ten years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-tried-to-leave-you-alone-fitz-to-find-what-peace-you-could-even-if/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“Do you think you're taking Etta out of here?" "Yes," Kennit called over his shoulder up the sairs. "What about all these dead men?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/do-you-think-you-re-taking-etta-out-of-here-yes-kennit-called-over/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“A way out is a way in. Then,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/a-way-out-is-a-way-in-then/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“Die in your dreams, wake up insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/die-in-your-dreams-wake-up-insane/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I felt a familiar squeezing in what I thought must be my heart. I had heard of being "heartbroken" or "heavy-hearted" but I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-felt-a-familiar-squeezing-in-what-i-thought-must-be-my-heart-i-had/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“They spoke of a dream of a child who bore the heart of a wolf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/they-spoke-of-a-dream-of-a-child-who-bore-the-heart-of-a-wolf/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“We all perish in our last attempt to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-all-perish-in-our-last-attempt-to-live/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“There is always power in holding a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-is-always-power-in-holding-a-secret/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“... finally realizing that life was to be lived, rather than hoarded against an unseen tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/finally-realizing-that-life-was-to-be-lived-rather-than-hoarded/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“Why, I suddenly wondered, had I wasted all those hours I could have spent with her? Why hadn’t I gone with them, to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/why-i-suddenly-wondered-had-i-wasted-all-those-hours-i-could-have/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I think I made a better boy than I do a man, I admitted ruefully to the wolf. Why not wait until you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-think-i-made-a-better-boy-than-i-do-a-man-i-admitted-ruefully-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“So, with all the wide world to choose from, you didn't choose at all. You simply stopped wandering one day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/so-with-all-the-wide-world-to-choose-from-you-didn-t-choose-at-all/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“I don't think I can stand it much longer,” he warned her. “Something will have to give way. And I fear it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-don-t-think-i-can-stand-it-much-longer-he-warned-her-something-will/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) [Explore all 500 Robin Hobb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) ## More Anticipate quotes > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What's interesting about art in public spaces is that the public really sort of takes over and uses it in ways that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresita-fernandez/what-s-interesting-about-art-in-public-spaces-is-that-the-public/) [Teresita Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresita-fernandez/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I wish I could anticipate some of the stories and lies that will be told. It's going to be great to get everyone together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-conley/i-wish-i-could-anticipate-some-of-the-stories-and-lies-that-will-be/) Larry Conley > [The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/the-two-revolutions-i-mean-the-annual-revolutions-of-the-declination/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. Man needs such a life and if it hasn't yetappeared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-two-or-three-hundred-years-life-on-earth-will-be-unimaginably/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) Browse all 458 Anticipate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. 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