A man's delight in looking forward to and hoping for some particular satisfaction is a part of the pleasure flowing out of it, enjoyed in advance. But this is afterward deducted, for the more we look forward to anything the less we enjoy it when it comes.
Few enterprises of great labor or hazard would be undertaken if we had not the power of magnifying the advantages we expect from them.
If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of trouble.
Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes.
Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.
We love to expect, and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified, we want to be again expecting.
We usually get what we anticipate.