"In order to win, you must expect to win"
About this Quote
Bach's context matters. As a novelist best known for metaphysical fables like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, he repeatedly sells the idea that limits are negotiated, not fixed. "Expect" is the key verb: not "wish", not "hope", not even "believe". Expectation is practical. It's what disciplines your attention and edits your self-talk. The subtext is almost therapeutic: if you carry an internal forecast of failure, you'll unconsciously build a life that confirms it. Expectation becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, but with a twist: you're responsible for the prophecy you choose.
There's also a telltale 1970s self-actualization streak here, a period when American culture was hungry for agency amid institutional distrust. Read charitably, it's a nudge toward confidence and commitment. Read skeptically, it's a warning label for hustle-culture optimism: expecting to win doesn't guarantee winning, but it can guarantee you keep acting like someone who might.
Quote Details
| Topic | Confidence |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Bach, Richard. (2026, January 18). In order to win, you must expect to win. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-order-to-win-you-must-expect-to-win-9935/
Chicago Style
Bach, Richard. "In order to win, you must expect to win." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-order-to-win-you-must-expect-to-win-9935/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"In order to win, you must expect to win." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-order-to-win-you-must-expect-to-win-9935/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.







