Surprise Sayings and Quotes

Planning is useful, but the most interesting times in life come from moments that catch you by surprise. Spend less time planning and more time living with the collection of wise and insightful surprise quotes below.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. George S. Patton
Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you. Randy Pausch
Do not know yourself. I want to continue to surprise me. Arielle Dombasle
Would you like to know your future? If your answer is yes, think again. Not knowing is the greatest life motivator. So enjoy, endure, survive each moment as it comes to you in its proper sequence, a surprise. Vera Nazarian
The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. Ashley Montagu
Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise. Alice Walker
To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated. James P. Carse
The most delightful surprise in life is to suddenly recognise your own worth. Maxwell Maltz
I try not to be surprised. Surprise is the public face of a mind that has been closed. Bernard Beckett
Where will I be five years from now? I delight in not knowing. That's one of the greatest things about life, its wonderful surprises. Marlo Thomas
In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door. David Steindl-Rast
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. Samuel Johnson
Surprise comes from defying expectations. Seth Godin
In life the only thing that you can expect is the unexpected; the only surprise is a day that has none. Joan Rivers
The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us. Francois de la Rochefoucauld
The wiser you become, the lesser you will be surprised! Mehmet Murat ildan
Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. Boris Pasternak
Let us accept truth, even when it surprises us and alters our views. George Sand
Sometimes people surprise us. People we believe we know. Joyce Carol Oates
Life is full of surprises. John Major
The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people: to present them with something they didn't expect. Christopher Lee
Whoever can surprise well must conquer. John Paul Jones
Planning is an unnatural process; it is much more fun to do something. The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. John Harvey-Jones
Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise. Julia Cameron
Art must take reality by surprise. Francoise Sagan
Surprise yourself every day with your own courage. Denholm Elliott
It's that element of surprise. When you lose control, you discover new things. Daniel Lanois
Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often. Mae West
There is no sweeter pleasure than to surprise a man by giving him more than he hopes for. Charles Baudelaire
How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life. Marcus Aurelius