---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always the right time to do the…"
description: "\"It is always the right time to do the right thing.\" — Martin Luther King, Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png"
---

#  It is always the right time to do the right thing.

![“It is always the right time to do the right thing.” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png)

> “It is always the right time to do the right thing.”

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

## 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.

**In simple terms:** Right actions are always timely.

Key Takeaway

Do the right thing now.

Themes

ethics timing responsibility

Mood

determined inspirational

Type

moral motivational

When to use this quote

- workplace decisions
- personal dilemmas
- political activism
- community service

Key Concepts

moral philosophy civic duty

Questions to Reflect On

- What prevents you from acting ethically today?
- How do you prioritize right actions?

A Different Perspective

May conflict with practical constraints or personal risk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-right/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is better to wait until you get the right thing, at the right time and in the right place; than to race for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/it-is-better-to-wait-until-you-get-the-right-thing-at-the-right-time/)

[Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/)

> [Right time, the right place The right body, the right face Timber I'm falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-b/right-time-the-right-place-the-right-body-the-right-face-timber-i-m/)

[Maddie\_b](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-b/)

> [Romeo Must Die came at the right time. It was the right vehicle for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah/romeo-must-die-came-at-the-right-time-it-was-the-right-vehicle-for-me/)

[Aaliyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah/)

> [If something is meant to be, theres no need to rush. It will happen in the right time with the right person for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-something-is-meant-to-be-theres-no-need-to-rush-it-will-happen-in/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“It’s not enough to be in right place at right time. You have to be the right person in the right place at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/it-s-not-enough-to-be-in-right-place-at-right-time-you-have-to-be-the/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [“Duty is doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons, without regard to the cost to one’s self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-dirks/duty-is-doing-the-right-thing-at-the-right-time-for-the-right-reasons/)

[Angelo Dirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-dirks/)

> [“If you don't have time to do it right, do you have time to do it over?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-mcfarland/if-you-don-t-have-time-to-do-it-right-do-you-have-time-to-do-it-over/)

[J.T. McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-mcfarland/)

> [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/)

> [You will be led to do the right thing at the right time and in the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/you-will-be-led-to-do-the-right-thing-at-the-right-time-and-in-the/)

[Charles F. Haanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-haanel/)

> [There's No Need To Rush If Something Is Meant To Be, It Will Happen. At The Right Time, With The Right Person, At The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-s-no-need-to-rush-if-something-is-meant-to-be-it-will-happen-at/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [We don't need to rush. If somethings bound to happen, it will happen in the right time, with the right person and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-need-to-rush-if-somethings-bound-to-happen-it-will-happen-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I always thought that marriage needs to happen at the right time, for the right reasons, and with the right person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-always-thought-that-marriage-needs-to-happen-at-the-right-time-for/)

[Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/)

> [It's one of the things that I tend to do, make the right decision, right time, and get the right reactions and capitalize on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/it-s-one-of-the-things-that-i-tend-to-do-make-the-right-decision/)

[Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/)

> [If something's bound to happen, it will happen.. Right time, right person, and for the best reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-something-s-bound-to-happen-it-will-happen-right-time-right-person/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [There's always been an element of 'right time, right place' to Nine Inch Nails. When we stepped onstage at Woodstock '94, I could sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/there-s-always-been-an-element-of-right-time-right-place-to-nine-inch/)

[Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/)

## More by Martin Luther King, Jr

> [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I’ve been to the Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-ve-been-to-the-mountaintop/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

[Explore all 1,210 Martin Luther King, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

## More Right quotes

> [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/)

[Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/)

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/)

[John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/)

> [A lot of young guys coming up in this league, they're given the spotlight right away, depending on draft stature or whatever the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/a-lot-of-young-guys-coming-up-in-this-league-they-re-given-the/)

[DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/)

[Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/)

> [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/)

[Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/)

> [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/)

[Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/)

> [Right before the pandemic, 'Past Lives' came across to me as something to read and possibly put myself on tape for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/right-before-the-pandemic-past-lives-came-across-to-me-as-something/)

[Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/)

> [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/)

[Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/)

> [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/)

[Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/)

[Browse all 15,243 Right quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is always the right time to do the right thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Luther King, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-right-thing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Right"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-right-thing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/martin-luther-king-jr-127_right_it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-ri_1550466.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is always the right time to do the right thing.” — Martin Luther King, Jr",
                "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": "Martin Luther King, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is always the right time...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-right-thing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-always-the-right-time-to-do-the-right-thing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
