"Expect the Unexpected"

“Expect the Unexpected”

To “expect the unexpected,” was a quote my father originally used to make my baseball team always stay one step ahead. Now that I'm older I realize that he was instilling in all of us, a tool that we can use for the rest of our lives. Originally the quote by Oscar Wilde reads, “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.” None of us on the team even knew who Oscar Wilde was at the time. Back then, we thought the quote only applied to baseball. To us it meant to never expect everything to go as planned. Errors are always bound to happen in baseball, so a player should think ahead about what to do to counter those errors in the event one takes place. If we were always thinking ahead and expecting the unexpected, then we would be better baseball players. Now my baseball years are long gone, but I can still fully appreciate the meaning of the quote when dealing with the curve balls life can throw at you at any given moment. I've realized that baseball is just a very elementary level for this quote, and only when you apply it to everyday life can you fully appreciate the entire meaning behind the brief phrase.

In a nut shell, to “expect the unexpected,” is to be prepared for every situation. People cannot live their lives believing everything is going to unfold perfectly to plan. Instincts definitely help, but instincts come more with experience, and a lot of times experience alone cannot prepare people for the crazy situations life can throw at you. Someone with “modern intellect,” as Oscar Wilde would describe, is an individual who has a plan when things go haywire, or in other words have the ability to adapt in unexpected situations. One who can see alternative solutions to alternative outcomes is a true intellectual. Some people may assume that to “expect the unexpected,” is to have a plan for every possible outcome, but this is not necessarily true. The ability to adapt is crucial because one cannot possibly derive every possible outcome of every possible situation. The idea and lesson behind the quote is both true and necessary in the pursuit of success. Though a little cliché, it becomes evident that this quote can be used in an endless variety of life situations. To “expect the unexpected,” is a brief phrase that encompasses an overwhelming truth, and any individual living by this code truly possesses “modern intellect.”

As far as style goes, the quote displays deductive logic, where the premise of truth is validated through the trial and error of all humans both past and present. Also, its use of repetition provides an interesting play on words. “Expect,” and “unexpected,” may sound the same, but these words completely contrast each other. This repetition is meant to emphasize and possibly even dramatize the meaning behind the quote. Although the idea of the quote is somewhat cliché, the words used to emphasize the idea are both fresh and witty. The word choice also leads to alternative conclusions such that if one truly does expect the unexpected, then aren't they assuming they ultimately have a solution no matter what? Is it possible to truly take into account all possible unexpected outcomes and have reactions for each of them, or does expecting the unexpected have more to do with one's flexibility in unfamiliar territory? As I explained before, I am a proponent of the ability to adapt as the quotes ultimate meaning. The quote can be seen many ways, and used in a wide variety of situations, but it is ultimately up to each person to make it their own.