--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We tend to get what we expect - both from…" description: "\"We tend to get what we expect - both from ourselves and from others. When we expect more, we tend to get more; when we expect less, we tend to get less..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/stephen-covey-339_expect_we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-both-from_2683661.png" --- # We tend to get what we expect - both from ourselves and… ![“We tend to get what we expect - both from ourselves and from others. When we expect more, we tend to get more; when we expect less, we tend to get less.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/stephen-covey-339_expect_we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-both-from_2683661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/stephen-covey-339_expect_we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-both-from_2683661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/stephen-covey-339_expect_we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-both-from_2683661.png) > “We tend to get what we expect - both from ourselves and from others. When we expect more, we tend to get more; when we expect less, we tend to get less.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expectations shape perception and behavior, influencing outcomes for self and others. **In simple terms:** Expectations affect results. Key Takeaway Adjust expectations to improve outcomes. Themes mindset expectations self‑fulfilling prophecy relationships Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team leadership - personal goal setting - customer service - education - coaching Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How do your expectations limit you? - What steps can you take to set realistic expectations? A Different Perspective Overly high expectations can cause pressure and disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) ## Related quotes > [“We tend to get what we expect, and if we expect nothing we get nothing. The stream cannot rise higher than its fountainhead;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect-and-if-we-expect-nothing-we-get-nothing/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [We tend to get what we expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/we-tend-to-get-what-we-expect/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Until we express ourselves, tell our elected officials what we expect from them, we can't expect them to do it on their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-silverbush/until-we-express-ourselves-tell-our-elected-officials-what-we-expect/) [Lori Silverbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-silverbush/) > [“My greatest expectation is that I expect more of myself than anyone could expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/my-greatest-expectation-is-that-i-expect-more-of-myself-than-anyone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“There are two ways to avoid getting disappointed. Expect everything - or expect nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasse-jerner/there-are-two-ways-to-avoid-getting-disappointed-expect-everything-or/) Hasse Jerner > [Be what you expect of yourself not what others expect of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/be-what-you-expect-of-yourself-not-what-others-expect-of-you/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [I want people to expect more from me because I expect more. If you don't set goals high, you're not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-helton/i-want-people-to-expect-more-from-me-because-i-expect-more-if-you-don/) [Todd Helton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-helton/) > [I expect to be great. I expect to do what hasnt been done. I expect to provoke change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/i-expect-to-be-great-i-expect-to-do-what-hasnt-been-done-i-expect-to/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. expect nothing - get nothing! but expect something - get something!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/blessed-is-he-that-expects-nothing-for-he-shall-never-be-disappointed/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Nobody should expect more of you than you expect of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/nobody-should-expect-more-of-you-than-you-expect-of-yourself/) [Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/) > [I always told my team two things: Never expect them to give you anything and always expect them to make the next shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-daniel/i-always-told-my-team-two-things-never-expect-them-to-give-you/) Beth Daniel > [I think people look at me and don't expect much. Even though, I expect a whole lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-think-people-look-at-me-and-don-t-expect-much-even-though-i-expect/) [Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/) > [Virgo's expect too much of everyone because they expect everyone to be like them. This causes them to be continually disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/virgo-s-expect-too-much-of-everyone-because-they-expect-everyone-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you begin to expect that there is always room for improvement, you put yourself in the driver’s seat. Why wait for someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/when-you-begin-to-expect-that-there-is-always-room-for-improvement/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Whatever you expect from me I EXPECT from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/whatever-you-expect-from-me-i-expect-from-you/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Expect quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [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 > [Beare with evill, and expect good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/beare-with-evill-and-expect-good/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therefore-you-also-must-be-ready-for-the-son-of-man-is-coming-at-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People expect more and more every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/people-expect-more-and-more-every-time/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [“Love is promising to give someone everything and not expect anything in return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hart/love-is-promising-to-give-someone-everything-and-not-expect-anything/) [Emma Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hart/) > [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“When you have a relationship with Jesus, you learn to expect something different everyday of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mlungisi-simelane/when-you-have-a-relationship-with-jesus-you-learn-to-expect-something/) [Mlungisi Simelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mlungisi-simelane/) > [I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-didn-t-expect-i-will-get-the-arjuna-at-18-years-i-thought-19/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Sometimes when you least expect it, hope wiggles into your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-plourde/sometimes-when-you-least-expect-it-hope-wiggles-into-your-heart/) [Lynn Plourde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-plourde/) > [I laid my life on the line, so I expect nothing less from you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-laid-my-life-on-the-line-so-i-expect-nothing-less-from-you/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) Browse all 2,143 Expect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We tend to get what we expect - both from ourselves and from others. 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