--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was doing the wrong thing, at the time…" description: "\"I was doing the wrong thing, at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. It's like if you're dealing with somebody who is high on drugs, they ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/ice-t-2150_clear_i-was-doing-the-wrong-thing-at-the-time_787748.jpg" --- # I was doing the wrong thing, at the time I thought I was… ![“I was doing the wrong thing, at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. It's like if you're dealing with somebody who is high on drugs, they can look back at it and say, "Wow, I was destroying myself." But during the period, they think they're doing the right thing. You just have to let…” quote by Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/ice-t-2150_clear_i-was-doing-the-wrong-thing-at-the-time_787748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/ice-t-2150_clear_i-was-doing-the-wrong-thing-at-the-time_787748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/ice-t-2150_clear_i-was-doing-the-wrong-thing-at-the-time_787748.jpg) > “I was doing the wrong thing, at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. It's like if you're dealing with somebody who is high on drugs, they can look back at it and say, "Wow, I was destroying myself." But during the period, they think they're doing the right thing. You just have to let the smoke clear so you can see the whole picture.” [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often mistake harmful actions for correct ones until hindsight reveals the truth. **In simple terms:** Wrong actions can feel right at the time. Key Takeaway Pause and reassess before acting. Themes self‑deception awareness reflection Mood conflicted thoughtful Type advisory reflective When to use this quote - personal crises - addiction recovery - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑justification clarity Questions to Reflect On - How can you create space to gain clarity? - What habits help you recognize self‑deception? A Different Perspective Misjudgment can persist without external perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-right/) [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-picture/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [Better to fail at doing the right thing than to succeed at doing the wrong thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/better-to-fail-at-doing-the-right-thing-than-to-succeed-at-doing-the/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [Our concept of eco-effectiveness means working on the right things - on the right products and services and systems - instead of making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/our-concept-of-eco-effectiveness-means-working-on-the-right-things-on/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Before rap came along, I was, actually, actively in the streets; getting in trouble, doing the wrong thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/before-rap-came-along-i-was-actually-actively-in-the-streets-getting/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [When you can make it this simple, though, just do the right thing. Even if you could get away with less. Even when other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/when-you-can-make-it-this-simple-though-just-do-the-right-thing-even/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Does experience help? NO! Not if we are doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/does-experience-help-no-not-if-we-are-doing-the-wrong-things/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“Spent half of my life doing the wrong things, the wrong way. Plan to spent the rest half doing again the same wrong things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-yiannoudis/spent-half-of-my-life-doing-the-wrong-things-the-wrong-way-plan-to/) John C. Yiannoudis > [If you give up on your principles I don’t think that’s being pragmatic... Doing the wrong thing, even partially, isn’t being practical...if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-give-up-on-your-principles-i-don-t-think-that-s-being/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [There is nothing worse than doing the wrong thing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-nothing-worse-than-doing-the-wrong-thing-well/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The moment you begin to depend on audience reaction, you're doing the wrong thing. You're doin' it wrong, it's a mistake, it's not right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-moment-you-begin-to-depend-on-audience-reaction-you-re-doing-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [We must do what we conceive to be the right thing, and not bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/we-must-do-what-we-conceive-to-be-the-right-thing-and-not-bother-our/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [The less unnecessary effort you put into learning, the more successful you'll be . . . Doing the wrong thing with more intensity rarely improves the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-less-unnecessary-effort-you-put-into-learning-the-more-successful/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [We are being ruined by the best efforts of people who are doing the wrong thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-being-ruined-by-the-best-efforts-of-people-who-are-doing-the/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [The more efficient you are at doing the wrong thing, the wronger you become. It is much better to do the right thing wronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/the-more-efficient-you-are-at-doing-the-wrong-thing-the-wronger-you/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [If you're not doing some things that are crazy, then you're doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/if-you-re-not-doing-some-things-that-are-crazy-then-you-re-doing-the/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [I saw a lot of people taking the wrong routes, coming up as a kid, just doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem-ayers/i-saw-a-lot-of-people-taking-the-wrong-routes-coming-up-as-a-kid-just/) [Akeem Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akeem-ayers/) ## More by Ice T > [You know, you'd hide behind a Public Enemy or Ice Cube, or Bruce Springsteen, or U2, because they spoke for you. But now everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/you-know-you-d-hide-behind-a-public-enemy-or-ice-cube-or-bruce/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I'm not going to allow anybody to hold a badge up over me or a cross or any other power symbol and say I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-m-not-going-to-allow-anybody-to-hold-a-badge-up-over-me-or-a-cross/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [When I make records I have full control of everything and I know how it sounds before it comes out, with films it's outta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/when-i-make-records-i-have-full-control-of-everything-and-i-know-how/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I've got a phone, answer machine, TV set, computer, hand grenade - everything you need to run a business in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-ve-got-a-phone-answer-machine-tv-set-computer-hand-grenade/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Yeah, it's legal in the United States. It's part of our Constitution. You know, the right to bear arms is because that's the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/yeah-it-s-legal-in-the-united-states-it-s-part-of-our-constitution/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Every once in a while, I hear somebody call me Tracy to try to let me know that they know me, you know, personally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/every-once-in-a-while-i-hear-somebody-call-me-tracy-to-try-to-let-me/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [“This next record is dedicated to some personal friends of mine, the LAPD. For every cop that has ever taken advantage of somebody, beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/this-next-record-is-dedicated-to-some-personal-friends-of-mine-the/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [There's people out there with nuclear bombs and yet we've got all these politicians trying to make a political platform based on a record.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/there-s-people-out-there-with-nuclear-bombs-and-yet-we-ve-got-all/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/arnold-schwarzenegger-blew-away-dozens-of-cops-as-the-terminator-but/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I've never been a cop hater. You know, when I was breaking the law, the cops were the opponent. I just thought I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-ve-never-been-a-cop-hater-you-know-when-i-was-breaking-the-law-the/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I'm like a monkey. You don't let go of one branch until you get a hold of the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-m-like-a-monkey-you-don-t-let-go-of-one-branch-until-you-get-a-hold/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Truthfully, a weak rapper can hide behind a lot of production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/truthfully-a-weak-rapper-can-hide-behind-a-lot-of-production/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I've been pulled out of my nice new car and laid out in the street by the police, interrogated and then have them get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-ve-been-pulled-out-of-my-nice-new-car-and-laid-out-in-the-street-by/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Being in the military just lets you know how helpless you are. You could train forever but you're still at the mercy of someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/being-in-the-military-just-lets-you-know-how-helpless-you-are-you/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [My father's family came from Virginia and Philadelphia. He wasn't a brother who talked a lot. He was a workingman, a quiet, blue-collar dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/my-father-s-family-came-from-virginia-and-philadelphia-he-wasn-t-a/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) [Explore all 183 Ice T quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was doing the wrong thing, at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. It's like if you're dealing with somebody who is high on drugs, they can look back at it and say, \"Wow, I was destroying myself.\" But during the period, they think they're doing the right thing. 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