--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Go with your first thoughts; they're…" description: "\"Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best thoughts. Pay attention, stick to your goals and follow those guidelines. It's all right there i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/rick-danko-21842_america_go-with-your-first-thoughts-they-re-usua_2565249.png" --- # Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best… ![“Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best thoughts. Pay attention, stick to your goals and follow those guidelines. It's all right there if you reach for it, unless you want to punch timeclocks and work for somebody. That's what we liked about America, the land of opportunity. All…” quote by Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/rick-danko-21842_america_go-with-your-first-thoughts-they-re-usua_2565249.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/rick-danko-21842_america_go-with-your-first-thoughts-they-re-usua_2565249.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/rick-danko-21842_america_go-with-your-first-thoughts-they-re-usua_2565249.png) > “Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best thoughts. Pay attention, stick to your goals and follow those guidelines. It's all right there if you reach for it, unless you want to punch timeclocks and work for somebody. That's what we liked about America, the land of opportunity. All your dreams can come true.” [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trust your initial intuition and stay focused on goals; avoid conventional constraints to pursue true opportunity. **In simple terms:** Listen to your first thoughts and pursue goals without limits. Key Takeaway Follow intuition and stay goal‑oriented. Themes intuition goal‑setting freedom Mood hopeful determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - entrepreneurship - personal growth - overcoming conformity Key Concepts self‑trust opportunity personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What first thought have you dismissed? - How can you balance intuition with realistic planning? A Different Perspective May ignore practical constraints that lead to unsustainable choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Best Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-thoughts-1391967/) [Dreams can come true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-can-come-true/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Land of opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land-of-opportunity/) [Opportunity Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-dreams-1642439/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-pay-1642441/) [Thoughts Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-usually-1642440/) ## Related quotes > [Why should I care what people think of me, their thoughts can't pay my bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/why-should-i-care-what-people-think-of-me-their-thoughts-can-t-pay-my/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Everybody has the opportunity to go for their dreams and be the best version of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/everybody-has-the-opportunity-to-go-for-their-dreams-and-be-the-best/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [Lifes greatest thoughts usually come to you when you forget youre thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/lifes-greatest-thoughts-usually-come-to-you-when-you-forget-youre/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [The worst thoughts usually strike in the dead of the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-worst-thoughts-usually-strike-in-the-dead-of-the-night/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“She had still been learning how to live with the hard truth that the most interesting parts of her thoughts usually got left behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/she-had-still-been-learning-how-to-live-with-the-hard-truth-that-the/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [The best thoughts most often come in the morning after waking, while still in bed or while walking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-best-thoughts-most-often-come-in-the-morning-after-waking-while/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Make your best thoughts into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/make-your-best-thoughts-into-action/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [I always have my best thoughts on the toilet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/i-always-have-my-best-thoughts-on-the-toilet/) [Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/) > [I always have my best thoughts on the toilet, so thats where that sage wisdom was coming from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/i-always-have-my-best-thoughts-on-the-toilet-so-thats-where-that-sage/) [Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/) > [The human race is guided by its own ideas, and only by its ideas. If thought were left perfectly free from ban of legislative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-battelle-dietrick/the-human-race-is-guided-by-its-own-ideas-and-only-by-its-ideas-if/) [Ellen Battelle Dietrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-battelle-dietrick/) > [“Solitude has the potential to bring the best thoughts to you. When you are not involved in the emotional, entangled in the sentimental, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-mishra/solitude-has-the-potential-to-bring-the-best-thoughts-to-you-when-you/) [Alok Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-mishra/) > [“Oblivion is the place where all my best thoughts reside or I must say hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-gupta/oblivion-is-the-place-where-all-my-best-thoughts-reside-or-i-must-say/) [Shreya Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-gupta/) > [How utterly are one's best thoughts invaded by this going out in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/how-utterly-are-one-s-best-thoughts-invaded-by-this-going-out-in/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [The greatest events of an age are its best thoughts. Thought finds its way into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-greatest-events-of-an-age-are-its-best-thoughts-thought-finds-its/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“With best thoughts, words and actions we align our past, present and future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-dallas-jr/with-best-thoughts-words-and-actions-we-align-our-past-present-and/) [John R. Dallas Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-dallas-jr/) ## More by Rick Danko > [I love to play; a stage is a safe place for me to be. It's not that way for most folks, but I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/i-love-to-play-a-stage-is-a-safe-place-for-me-to-be-it-s-not-that-way/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [When I was younger, I had big visions of changing the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/when-i-was-younger-i-had-big-visions-of-changing-the-world/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [I'm here in the mountains, in the foothills of the Catskills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/i-m-here-in-the-mountains-in-the-foothills-of-the-catskills/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [I saw Ronnie Hawkins play near my hometown, Port Dover, Ontario, and I saw him play there on New Year's Eve and the following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/i-saw-ronnie-hawkins-play-near-my-hometown-port-dover-ontario-and-i/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [The Band was always famous for its retirements we'd go and play and get a little petty cash together, and then not see each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/the-band-was-always-famous-for-its-retirements-we-d-go-and-play-and/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [Country artists, I met a lot of them when I was five, six years old. I had an uncle who was a country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/country-artists-i-met-a-lot-of-them-when-i-was-five-six-years-old-i/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [Then, there was Greenpeace, I remember that when they first started out with the boats in the waters, and the guys in the boats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/then-there-was-greenpeace-i-remember-that-when-they-first-started-out/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [Getting older, I realize I've had a very fortunate life. I've had a budget that's allowed me to do just about any silly little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/getting-older-i-realize-i-ve-had-a-very-fortunate-life-i-ve-had-a/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [My first payback to society in life, was The Dolphin Project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/my-first-payback-to-society-in-life-was-the-dolphin-project/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [Also a portion of my sales go directly to Greenpeace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/also-a-portion-of-my-sales-go-directly-to-greenpeace/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [I started working with Bob in 1965. We did go through a lot of changes from 65 to 74, a lot of changes. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/i-started-working-with-bob-in-1965-we-did-go-through-a-lot-of-changes/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [After convincing myself that was maybe you should at least help out your neighborhood, I really started to think about it later on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/after-convincing-myself-that-was-maybe-you-should-at-least-help-out/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [When CD technology first came out, it was just so much waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/when-cd-technology-first-came-out-it-was-just-so-much-waste/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [God don't like complaints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/god-don-t-like-complaints/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) > [The pressures, I don't really like to think about the pressures, I like to solve them, you know what I mean. I could sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/the-pressures-i-don-t-really-like-to-think-about-the-pressures-i-like/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) [Explore all 28 Rick Danko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best thoughts. Pay attention, stick to your goals and follow those guidelines. It's all right there if you reach for it, unless you want to punch timeclocks and work for somebody. 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