--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So, one-third of the time it's a bad idea…" description: "\"“So, one-third of the time it's a bad idea to move, which means that two-thirds of the time it's a good idea.”\" — Ian McEwan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ian-mcewan-494_bad-idea_so-one-third-of-the-time-it-s-a-bad-idea_1423549.png" --- # So, one-third of the time it's a bad idea to move, which… ![“So, one-third of the time it's a bad idea to move, which means that two-thirds of the time it's a good idea.” quote by Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ian-mcewan-494_bad-idea_so-one-third-of-the-time-it-s-a-bad-idea_1423549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ian-mcewan-494_bad-idea_so-one-third-of-the-time-it-s-a-bad-idea_1423549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/ian-mcewan-494_bad-idea_so-one-third-of-the-time-it-s-a-bad-idea_1423549.png) > ““So, one-third of the time it's a bad idea to move, which means that two-thirds of the time it's a good idea.”” [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognize that not all actions are optimal; weigh timing to decide when to move. **In simple terms:** Not every moment is right to act. Key Takeaway Consider timing before acting. Themes decision‑making timing risk Mood analytical cautious Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - investment - career moves - personal relationships Key Concepts Opportunity cost strategic patience Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify the right moment? - What risks arise from over‑analysis? A Different Perspective Delaying action can lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Whoever has not two-thirds of his time to himself, is a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/whoever-has-not-two-thirds-of-his-time-to-himself-is-a-slave/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [No one knows what's a good idea or a bad idea until you try it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-randolph/no-one-knows-what-s-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-idea-until-you-try-it/) [Marc Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-randolph/) > [The only way to oppose a bad idea is to replace it with a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/the-only-way-to-oppose-a-bad-idea-is-to-replace-it-with-a-good-idea/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [We should invest in people not ideas. 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My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. 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And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) [Explore all 496 Ian McEwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More Bad idea quotes > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [One thing I know is that it is a bad idea to marry someone who had bad parents. 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Watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-markoe/more-than-any-other-personality-trait-my-mother-seemed-to-be-ruled-by/) [Merrill Markoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrill-markoe/) > [“Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to inflict my rantings on you, even though we are destined to spend the rest of our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/sorry-he-apologized-i-didn-t-mean-to-inflict-my-rantings-on-you-even/) [connie willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [“Jesus. Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, L.A., and Seattle, plus two small towns she'd never heard of in the Gulf Coast region. The unit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/jesus-chicago-kansas-city-denver-phoenix-l-a-and-seattle-plus-two/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [“Civilization is an experiment, a very recent way of life in the human career, and it has a habit of walking into what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-wright/civilization-is-an-experiment-a-very-recent-way-of-life-in-the-human/) [Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-wright/) > [Idea-Advocacy Matrix highlights a couple of things: that good ideas need to be "sold" if they are ever going to see the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/idea-advocacy-matrix-highlights-a-couple-of-things-that-good-ideas/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [“It is not a bad idea to get into the habbit of writing one's thoughts. 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