--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It might be a bad thing to be first , if…" description: "\"It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and think about it. It might be better to be second or third because then you can enjoy it and disapp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg" --- # It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and… ![“It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and think about it. It might be better to be second or third because then you can enjoy it and disappear - return to the society you came out of without someone always poking you in the side and saying you were first.” quote by Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg) > “It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and think about it. It might be better to be second or third because then you can enjoy it and disappear - return to the society you came out of without someone always poking you in the side and saying you were first.” [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being first can bring unwanted scrutiny and pressure; being later lets you benefit from others’ experience and blend in. **In simple terms:** Being first can be risky; later is safer. Key Takeaway Consider the costs of pioneering before acting. Themes leadership risk social dynamics Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - team projects - public speaking - innovation launches Key Concepts pioneering visibility conformity Questions to Reflect On - Is the safety of being second worth missing potential breakthroughs? - How do you balance visibility with personal comfort? A Different Perspective Being first may also bring unique rewards and breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-second-1929667/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Return Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return-society-2475723/) [Second Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-enjoy-3985401/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) [Stop Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-think/) [Think Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-better/) ## Related quotes > [Life could end at any second so enjoy what you have, don't dwell on what you don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taelor-chardae/life-could-end-at-any-second-so-enjoy-what-you-have-don-t-dwell-on/) [Taelor Chardae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taelor-chardae/) > [When you create wealth, it’s your responsibility to return it to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-you-create-wealth-it-s-your-responsibility-to-return-it-to/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world, but the tone and destructive rhetoric across the ideological spectrum is tearing our country apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-but-the-tone-and/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [In return, society rewards those who give it what it wants. That is why how much money people have earned is a rough measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/in-return-society-rewards-those-who-give-it-what-it-wants-that-is-why/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Those of us involved in football must be aware of the power we have to help. We also have a responsibility to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puyol/those-of-us-involved-in-football-must-be-aware-of-the-power-we-have/) [Carles Puyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puyol/) > [It’s not enough to withdraw from society and seek your own salvation, your own individuation. The individuator must return to society (“collectivity”) to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-valentine-lachman/it-s-not-enough-to-withdraw-from-society-and-seek-your-own-salvation/) [Gary Valentine Lachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-valentine-lachman/) > [It is always possible to do a thing better the second time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/it-is-always-possible-to-do-a-thing-better-the-second-time/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“You better call me the second he steps off that elevator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-michaels/you-better-call-me-the-second-he-steps-off-that-elevator/) [Victoria Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-michaels/) > [It's better to be second while everyone is saying 'You should have been first,' than be first when everyone says 'You should be second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-smirnoff/it-s-better-to-be-second-while-everyone-is-saying-you-should-have/) [Karina Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-smirnoff/) > [It's better to be second in a War never fought than first in one that was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/it-s-better-to-be-second-in-a-war-never-fought-than-first-in-one-that/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Its better to be second while everyone is saying You should have been first than be first when everyone says You should be second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-smirnoff/its-better-to-be-second-while-everyone-is-saying-you-should-have-been/) [Karina Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-smirnoff/) > [Men's first thoughts in this matter are generally better than their second; their natural notions better than those refin'd by study, or consultation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-1st-earl-of-shaftesbury/men-s-first-thoughts-in-this-matter-are-generally-better-than-their/) [Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-1st-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [“A good book is always better the second time around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-acquaire/a-good-book-is-always-better-the-second-time-around/) [M.T. Acquaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-acquaire/) > [I remain convinced that the most valuable use of time for a newly published author is to write a second book that's even better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/i-remain-convinced-that-the-most-valuable-use-of-time-for-a-newly/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-robinson/you-don-t-think-it-s-all-instinct-if-you-stop-to-think-you-re-gone/) [Sugar Ray Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-robinson/) ## More by Guion Bluford > [To climb into an airplane and motor up by yourself, it is just amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/to-climb-into-an-airplane-and-motor-up-by-yourself-it-is-just-amazing/) [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) > [I wanted to set the standard, do the best job possible so that other people would be comfortable with African-Americans flying in space and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/i-wanted-to-set-the-standard-do-the-best-job-possible-so-that-other/) [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) > [I chased my dreams. In the end, find what gets you excited and chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/i-chased-my-dreams-in-the-end-find-what-gets-you-excited-and-chase-it/) [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) > [The job is so fantastic, you don't need a hobby. The hobby is going to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/the-job-is-so-fantastic-you-don-t-need-a-hobby-the-hobby-is-going-to/) [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) > [The crew taped the intercom conversation. There's somebody giggling and laughing all the way up. And we listened to it for quite a while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/the-crew-taped-the-intercom-conversation-there-s-somebody-giggling/) [Guion Bluford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) [Explore all 6 Guion Bluford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and think about it. It might be better to be second or third because then you can enjoy it and disappear - return to the society you came out of without someone always poking you in the side and saying you were first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guion Bluford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-you-stop-and-think-about-it-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-you-stop-and-think-about-it-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/guion-bluford-55286_bad_it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-y_1257402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It might be a bad thing to be first , if you stop and think about it. It might be better to be second or…” — Guion Bluford", "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": "Guion Bluford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guion-bluford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It might be a bad thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-you-stop-and-think-about-it-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guion-bluford/it-might-be-a-bad-thing-to-be-first-if-you-stop-and-think-about-it-it/#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 } } ] } ```