Quote by William Shakespeare, All's Well
Oft expectation fails, and most oft thereWhere most it promises; and oft it hitsWhere hope is coldest, and despair most fits.
Summary
This quote means that our expectations are often defied and most frequently in places where they were initially promised. It suggests that our hopes are often shattered in moments when we are least expecting it and when we feel the least optimistic. It further implies that disappointment and despair tend to be more prevalent in our lives than the fulfillment of our expectations.