--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do it right or don't do it at all. That…" description: "\"Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/ray-charles-6406_done_do-it-right-or-don-t-do-it-at-all-that-c_1987592.jpg" --- # Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom… ![“Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I get it done. If I'm trying to sing something and I can't get it, I'm going to keep at it until I get where I want it.” quote by Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/ray-charles-6406_done_do-it-right-or-don-t-do-it-at-all-that-c_1987592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/ray-charles-6406_done_do-it-right-or-don-t-do-it-at-all-that-c_1987592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/ray-charles-6406_done_do-it-right-or-don-t-do-it-at-all-that-c_1987592.jpg) > “Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I get it done. If I'm trying to sing something and I can't get it, I'm going to keep at it until I get where I want it.” [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Commitment to quality means either doing something fully or not at all, persisting until success is achieved. **In simple terms:** Do it well or not at all, keep trying until you succeed. Key Takeaway Never settle for half‑measures. Themes commitment perseverance excellence Mood determined focused Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - learning a new skill - working on a project - artistic performance - personal goals Key Concepts growth mindset determination resilience Questions to Reflect On - What tasks deserve full effort? - How do you balance persistence with self‑care? A Different Perspective May lead to burnout if perfectionism overrides practicality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Get it done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-it-done/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-want-723402/) [My mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-mom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-going-928639/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-sing-750404/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [ I said \[to my mom\], "I want to go to the parachute regiment." She said, "Whew, that's tough. But okay, I understand." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/i-said-to-my-mom-i-want-to-go-to-the-parachute-regiment-she-said-whew/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) > [When I was five, I always told my mom I would want to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-gonzalez/when-i-was-five-i-always-told-my-mom-i-would-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Rick Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-gonzalez/) > [I'm gonna sing, and I'm going to make me a lot of money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-cooke/i-m-gonna-sing-and-i-m-going-to-make-me-a-lot-of-money/) [Sam Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-cooke/) > [(On Britney lip syncing at concerts) I dont think thats fair at all for people who are going to see the show. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/on-britney-lip-syncing-at-concerts-i-dont-think-thats-fair-at-all-for/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [I think if you are going to be a singer, you should sing. If you are going to be a dancer, you should dance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-think-if-you-are-going-to-be-a-singer-you-should-sing-if-you-are/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [I tried to sing 'What's Going On' with Amy Winehouse once at an old cinema in the West End. There was a funk band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/i-tried-to-sing-what-s-going-on-with-amy-winehouse-once-at-an-old/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) > [I dont think thats fair at all for people who are going to see the show. I think if you are going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-dont-think-thats-fair-at-all-for-people-who-are-going-to-see-the/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [I never do a show where the people just sit there and look at me. They always sing along. It's going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-fanta-swaray/i-never-do-a-show-where-the-people-just-sit-there-and-look-at-me-they/) [Estelle Fanta Swaray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-fanta-swaray/) > [I was obsessed with fairytales, and I was a very, very inquisitive kid, and I would ask my mom all kinds of questions. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-was-obsessed-with-fairytales-and-i-was-a-very-very-inquisitive-kid/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [He has been trying to sing Love into existence again And he has failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/he-has-been-trying-to-sing-love-into-existence-again-and-he-has-failed/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Automatically everybody thinks of me as an actress who is trying to sing. And if I weren't me I'd probably think the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/automatically-everybody-thinks-of-me-as-an-actress-who-is-trying-to/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [I've been trying to sing for a long time. I didn't realize that's what I wanted to do until I was about seven or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-jackson/i-ve-been-trying-to-sing-for-a-long-time-i-didn-t-realize-that-s-what/) [Trevor Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-jackson/) > [I actually started singing in church when I was about five years old. I remember looking at the choirs and just hearing all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/i-actually-started-singing-in-church-when-i-was-about-five-years-old/) [Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/) > [It may not necessarily reflect my current frame of mind. Sometimes I have to put myself at the point in time of the voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-may-not-necessarily-reflect-my-current-frame-of-mind-sometimes-i/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I talked with labels and they wouldn't help with my international career. They said, 'Saara, if you're in Finland you just have to sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saara-aalto/i-talked-with-labels-and-they-wouldn-t-help-with-my-international/) [Saara Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saara-aalto/) ## More by Ray Charles > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-important-thing-is-to-feel-your-music-really-feel-it-and-believe/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-suppose-i-ve-always-done-my-share-of-crying-especially-when-there-s/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/you-never-can-overwhelm-an-instrument-you-will-never-get-out-all-that/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I'd like to think that when I sing a song, I can let you know all about the heartbreak, struggle, lies and kicks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-d-like-to-think-that-when-i-sing-a-song-i-can-let-you-know-all/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-never-wanted-to-be-famous-i-only-wanted-to-be-great/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-me-if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/any-artist-when-he-goes-in-to-record-should-have-the-feeling-that-any/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The words to country songs are very earthy like the blues. They're not as dressed up and the people are very honest and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-words-to-country-songs-are-very-earthy-like-the-blues-they-re-not/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [If you can play the blues, you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/if-you-can-play-the-blues-you-can-do-anything/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/dreams-if-they-re-any-good-are-always-a-little-bit-crazy/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it. It's part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/music-to-me-is-just-like-breathing-i-have-to-have-it-it-s-part-of-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I set my own rhythm, and I do believe it was usually a little faster than most other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-set-my-own-rhythm-and-i-do-believe-it-was-usually-a-little-faster/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I was born with music inside me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-was-born-with-music-inside-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I had to pawn my clothes just to pay my rent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-had-to-pawn-my-clothes-just-to-pay-my-rent/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) [Explore all 98 Ray Charles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [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/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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