you never get more than you expect

(context: When my daughter was small, I remember my mother saying to me, "Mary, you expect too much from her." And I replied, "You never get more than you expect." )

Does "you never get more than you expect" mean "you can get all that you expect"?

[Anglika]

(context: When my daughter was small, I remember my mother saying to me, "Mary, you expect too much from her." And I replied, "You never get more than you expect." )

Does "you never get more than you expect" mean "you can get all that you expect"?


No, not really. It implies that your expectations will be met - ie that if you expect your child to make her/his bed in the morning and she/he does it, your expectation has been met. The speaker is also arguing that her mother's attitude will never encourage the child to achieve much in life.