--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At that time, we were in charge. We…" description: "\"At that time, we were in charge. We didn't ask. We just did. We just did what was in our heart.\" — Ben E. King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/ben-e-king-14975_ask_at-that-time-we-were-in-charge-we-didn-t_1617996.png" --- # At that time, we were in charge. We didn't ask. We just… ![“At that time, we were in charge. We didn't ask. We just did. We just did what was in our heart.” quote by Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/ben-e-king-14975_ask_at-that-time-we-were-in-charge-we-didn-t_1617996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/ben-e-king-14975_ask_at-that-time-we-were-in-charge-we-didn-t_1617996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/ben-e-king-14975_ask_at-that-time-we-were-in-charge-we-didn-t_1617996.png) > “At that time, we were in charge. We didn't ask. We just did. We just did what was in our heart.” [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting on instinct and heartfelt conviction without overthinking leads to decisive action. **In simple terms:** Follow your heart and act. Key Takeaway Trust instinct, act decisively. Themes action intuition confidence Mood determined energetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - emergency response - creative projects - personal goals Key Concepts instinctive decisionmaking courage Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to act without questioning? - How can you ensure heart‑driven actions are responsible? A Different Perspective Impulsive actions may ignore consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I can't actually pinpoint anything that made me want to be an actor - I just did. And then anything after that just fueled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-morgan/i-can-t-actually-pinpoint-anything-that-made-me-want-to-be-an-actor-i/) [Colin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-morgan/) > [What did my fingers do before they held him? What did my heart do, with its love?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/what-did-my-fingers-do-before-they-held-him-what-did-my-heart-do-with-2/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I'd like people to remember that I really tried everything within my range of reality. And that whatever I did, I did with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-shore/i-d-like-people-to-remember-that-i-really-tried-everything-within-my/) [Dinah Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-shore/) > [Whatever I believed, I did; I did with my whole heart and mind as far as possible to do so...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-toomer/whatever-i-believed-i-did-i-did-with-my-whole-heart-and-mind-as-far/) [Jean Toomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-toomer/) > [I wonder, when you looked into my eyes; saw my heart shatter did your heart break too, cracks a little bit?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-when-you-looked-into-my-eyes-saw-my-heart-shatter-did-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/did-my-heart-love-till-now-forswear-it-sight-for-i-never-saw-true/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Why did the heart go away from me why did it fall for you is taking only your name why is it going crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-gaire/why-did-the-heart-go-away-from-me-why-did-it-fall-for-you-is-taking/) [Kamal Gaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-gaire/) > [Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/did-my-heart-love-till-now-forswear-it-sight-for-i-ne-er-saw-true/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When u said that u couldnt hold on what did I i I do wrong all I did was give you my heart baby.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney/when-u-said-that-u-couldnt-hold-on-what-did-i-i-i-do-wrong-all-i-did/) [Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney/) > [To clarify the facts to everyone, yes, I did have a heart attack. I was on a plane leaving from Los Angeles, CA, heading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-perez/to-clarify-the-facts-to-everyone-yes-i-did-have-a-heart-attack-i-was/) [George Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-perez/) > [Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly at your service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/hear-my-soul-speak-of-the-very-instant-that-i-saw-you-did-my-heart/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Oh God, why did her heart crack in the manner it did?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/oh-god-why-did-her-heart-crack-in-the-manner-it-did/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [The industry now wants to be in charge of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/the-industry-now-wants-to-be-in-charge-of-everything/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [There was just something about me she did not like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/there-was-just-something-about-me-she-did-not-like/) [Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/) > [You have to be an idiot to run out of gas…I just did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/you-have-to-be-an-idiot-to-run-out-of-gas-i-just-did/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) ## More by Ben E. King > [He was a manager, one of the singers, I guess talent coordinator for the local talent in Harlem. His name was Lover Patterson. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/he-was-a-manager-one-of-the-singers-i-guess-talent-coordinator-for/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Many times I've gone on tours with Paul Anka. He would have someone sitting behind him to keep people from even talking to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/many-times-i-ve-gone-on-tours-with-paul-anka-he-would-have-someone/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I think that the song, the song "Stand By Me" is one of those songs that... and someone asked me, what was you thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-think-that-the-song-the-song-stand-by-me-is-one-of-those-songs-that/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Of course, the kids who had never heard of a person called Ben E. King were then aware of the name associated with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/of-course-the-kids-who-had-never-heard-of-a-person-called-ben-e-king/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I'm a songwriter. So I'm OK. But when I wrote "Stand By Me" as a song and to know that the song will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-m-a-songwriter-so-i-m-ok-but-when-i-wrote-stand-by-me-as-a-song-and/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [And, because there was an honesty about all that was going on. It connected with the people in the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/and-because-there-was-an-honesty-about-all-that-was-going-on-it/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I would imagine after the first recording session with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and Atlantic Records I began to realize that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-would-imagine-after-the-first-recording-session-with-jerry-leiber/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I don't care what studio I'm in, I don't care what producers is producing it and I don't care what song it is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-don-t-care-what-studio-i-m-in-i-don-t-care-what-producers-is/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall. Or the mountain should crumble to the sea. I won't cry, no I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/if-the-sky-that-we-look-upon-should-tumble-and-fall-or-the-mountain/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Yeah. I've been pretty fortunate to travel I guess, all around the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/yeah-i-ve-been-pretty-fortunate-to-travel-i-guess-all-around-the-place/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I do a lot of Vegas work and work with the comedians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-do-a-lot-of-vegas-work-and-work-with-the-comedians/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [It never dawned on me at any particular time of my life that people are paid tremendous money to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/it-never-dawned-on-me-at-any-particular-time-of-my-life-that-people/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [When we took on the name The Drifters, we became the new Drifters, and signed a contract to be put on salary, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/when-we-took-on-the-name-the-drifters-we-became-the-new-drifters-and/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [We were doing things with a hundred per cent feeling. It wasn't programmed. It wasn't asked for. It wasn't structured. It was just there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/we-were-doing-things-with-a-hundred-per-cent-feeling-it-wasn-t/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [The movie is actually from a book by Stephen King called The Body. When they were gonna put it to a motion picture, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/the-movie-is-actually-from-a-book-by-stephen-king-called-the-body/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) [Explore all 44 Ben E. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) ## More Ask quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. I always ask the producers: 'Are there no 70-year old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/i-m-not-in-the-movie-business-anymore-and-hardly-any-70-year-olds-are/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) Browse all 1,306 Ask quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At that time, we were in charge. 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