--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The…" description: "\"“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”\" — Guideposts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg" --- # As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always… ![“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.” quote by Guideposts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg) > ““As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”” Guideposts ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting ethically is always appropriate, regardless of timing or circumstance. **In simple terms:** Do the right thing now. Key Takeaway Act with integrity today. Themes ethics timing responsibility Mood determined inspirational Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - business decisions - personal dilemmas - political activism - community service Key Concepts moral philosophy civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from acting ethically? - How can you create environments that support right actions? A Different Perspective Sometimes doing the right thing can be costly or risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dr martin luther king](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dr-martin-luther-king/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm all for chasing your dreams. But so it when the time is right, and do it the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-all-for-chasing-your-dreams-but-so-it-when-the-time-is-right-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The time is always right to do right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-time-is-always-right-to-do-right/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“the time is always right to do the right thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/the-time-is-always-right-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [The time is always right to do what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/the-time-is-always-right-to-do-what-is-right/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [Whenever the time is right, it will be the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/whenever-the-time-is-right-it-will-be-the-right-time/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [And there's always a better time than right now and there always will be. But right now is what we've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/and-there-s-always-a-better-time-than-right-now-and-there-always-will/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [The right place at the right time is right here and right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-c-ustaszeski/the-right-place-at-the-right-time-is-right-here-and-right-now/) Michelle C Ustaszeski > [ I think that I'll always remember the bust of Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King. I thought having an American here who represented rhat civic spirit… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-i-ll-always-remember-the-bust-of-dr-martin-luther-king-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ I met Rosa Parks when I was 17. I met Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King when I was 18. 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He is an American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/dr-martin-luther-king-is-not-a-black-hero-he-is-an-american-hero/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [The greatest moral leader of my lifetime was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose private life does not bear close examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-greatest-moral-leader-of-my-lifetime-was-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I've seen what's around the corner. I've seen what's over the horizon and I promise ya, you niggas have nothin to celebrate. And no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boondocks/i-ve-seen-what-s-around-the-corner-i-ve-seen-what-s-over-the-horizon/) Boondocks > [ Nonviolence with Dr. \[Martin Luther \]King is only a method. That's not his objective. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/nonviolence-with-dr-martin-luther-king-is-only-a-method-that-s-not/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Guideposts > [“Dear Lord, thank You for answered prayers and humans who do Your work here on earth. Please send Your comfort to all the animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-lord-thank-you-for-answered-prayers-and-humans-who-do-your-work/) Guideposts > [“Do not worry about your life. . . .” —Matthew 6:25 (NIV)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/do-not-worry-about-your-life-matthew-6-25-niv/) Guideposts > [“I am thinking that there is “a lot of sugar in the bottom of life’s cup” if I am willing to keep on learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/i-am-thinking-that-there-is-a-lot-of-sugar-in-the-bottom-of-life-s/) Guideposts > [“Dear Father, I thank You that You don’t just give me strength, but You are my strength. Amen. —Karen Barber”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-father-i-thank-you-that-you-don-t-just-give-me-strength-but-you/) Guideposts > [“The one thing that had gotten me through these painful years was my faith that God was behind this and was guiding me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/the-one-thing-that-had-gotten-me-through-these-painful-years-was-my/) Guideposts > [“Thank You, Lord, for helping me to change my attitude toward things I need to do. Help me to find a bit of gladness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/thank-you-lord-for-helping-me-to-change-my-attitude-toward-things-i/) Guideposts > [“Father, You lead us down a path whose destination only You know, and we are rewarded by our faith. You have brought so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/father-you-lead-us-down-a-path-whose-destination-only-you-know-and-we/) Guideposts > [“Look! I’m doing a new thing. . . . —Isaiah 43:19 (CEB)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/look-i-m-doing-a-new-thing-isaiah-43-19-ceb/) Guideposts > [“Join me this year in letting the dishes sit and the phone go unanswered. Instead, take an hour—or even a minute—to breathe in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/join-me-this-year-in-letting-the-dishes-sit-and-the-phone-go/) Guideposts > [“Lord, sometimes life is hard. But thank You for being there and showing us what to do. —Marilyn Turk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/lord-sometimes-life-is-hard-but-thank-you-for-being-there-and-showing/) Guideposts > [“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/see-i-am-sending-an-angel-ahead-of-you-to-guard-you-along-the-way-and/) Guideposts > [“When arrogance appears, disgrace follows. . . . —Proverbs 11:2 (JPS)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/when-arrogance-appears-disgrace-follows-proverbs-11-2-jps/) Guideposts > [“Whereas for me it is the very unreasonableness of God that allows me to believe. Because I cannot understand, count me in. If God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/whereas-for-me-it-is-the-very-unreasonableness-of-god-that-allows-me/) Guideposts > [“May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:22, NIV).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/may-your-unfailing-love-be-with-us-lord-even-as-we-put-our-hope-in/) Guideposts > [“Dear Lord, thank You for the reminders that no matter what challenges I face, it’s important to look up now and then, to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-lord-thank-you-for-the-reminders-that-no-matter-what-challenges/) Guideposts Explore all 157 Guideposts quotes ## More Dr martin luther king quotes > [“Deterrents properly placed can help. But that is not enough. We are one society, and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/deterrents-properly-placed-can-help-but-that-is-not-enough-we-are-one/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [What's that? My six song album entitled Bo Fo Sho is currently available on iTunes? With three songs that have never been heard on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/what-s-that-my-six-song-album-entitled-bo-fo-sho-is-currently/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Pigmentation was a quick and convenient way of judging a person. 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And he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-this-but-i-suspect-that-obama-is-afraid/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [In our times, significantly, the three outstanding voices against violence have been silenced by murder - Mahatma Gandhi in India, Archbishop Romero in El…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/in-our-times-significantly-the-three-outstanding-voices-against/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [Changing the world doesn't require much money. Again, think in terms of empowerment and not charity. How much were Gandhi's teachers paid? 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That's not his objective. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/nonviolence-with-dr-martin-luther-king-is-only-a-method-that-s-not/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I've seen what's around the corner. I've seen what's over the horizon and I promise ya, you niggas have nothin to celebrate. And no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boondocks/i-ve-seen-what-s-around-the-corner-i-ve-seen-what-s-over-the-horizon/) Boondocks > [The greatest moral leader of my lifetime was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose private life does not bear close examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-greatest-moral-leader-of-my-lifetime-was-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The most influential people in my life are deceased. These include my parents, George Dunne, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., my minister in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/the-most-influential-people-in-my-life-are-deceased-these-include-my/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Dr. Martin Luther King is not a black hero. He is an American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/dr-martin-luther-king-is-not-a-black-hero-he-is-an-american-hero/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [The greatest lesson I learned that year in Mrs. Henry's class was the lesson Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to teach us all:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-bridges/the-greatest-lesson-i-learned-that-year-in-mrs-henry-s-class-was-the/) [Ruby Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-bridges/) [Browse all 74 Dr martin luther king quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dr-martin-luther-king/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guideposts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-time-is-always-right-to-do-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dr martin luther king" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-time-is-always-right-to-do-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/guideposts-2616_dr-martin-luther-kin_as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-tim_3064756.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.” — Guideposts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Guideposts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guideposts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-time-is-always-right-to-do-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/as-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-said-the-time-is-always-right-to-do-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```