The motto upon which I live my entire life...
"He who expects nothing will not be disappointed."

Trust me.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 20 May 2010, 14:12, 6 replies)

My Dad said something similar to me as a kid
And personally I hate him for it. Turned me into a pessimist, with all the shit that went with it which I am only just recovering from 25 years on. But if it works for you, great.
( DeadEyeDick, Thu 20 May 2010, 14:25, closed)

Well it depends on how you interpret it.
I don't assume that everything will go badly. I just assume that everything will be decidedly average. Anything more than that will be a bonus.

Honestly, I have converted a number of people onto this train of thought!
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 20 May 2010, 14:47, closed)

I'm with you on this. I'm not gloomy but I'd rather be a surprised pessimist than a disappointed optimist.
( sanityclause is waiting until, Thu 20 May 2010, 15:03, closed)

Precisely my point!

(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 20 May 2010, 15:10, closed)

Ha!
I've been saying this for years! Good to find people who agree.
(oball needs Satan more than he needs me, Fri 21 May 2010, 7:48, closed)

Also
Agreed. The full quote is 'Blessed is the man who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed' Alexander Pope wrote this I think. Combine it with 'treat others as you wish to be treated' and you have got all you need to live a decent life. A very distilled version of Buddhism!
(wEEjOCKpOOpONGmCPLOP He is ugly though isnt he OOOH YESS!, Thu 20 May 2010, 15:27, closed)