--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But at the same time, if the right thing…" description: "\"But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I would do it in a second.\" — Thomas Haden Church" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png" --- # But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I… ![“But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I would do it in a second.” quote by Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png) > “But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I would do it in a second.” [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If an opportunity aligns perfectly with one's values, action is immediate. **In simple terms:** Right fit leads to quick action. Key Takeaway Act swiftly when something feels right. Themes decision making values opportunity Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - investment decisions Key Concepts ethics intuition timing Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define a “right thing” for you? - How do you balance speed with deliberation? A Different Perspective May overlook long‑term consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ “the thing I came for: \[...\] the thing itself and not the myth” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-thing-i-came-for-the-thing-itself-and-not-the-myth/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [This Wu thing came out of nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inspectah-deck/this-wu-thing-came-out-of-nowhere/) [Inspectah Deck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inspectah-deck/) > [If there was one good thing that came out of all this, it was that I got to meet you. I would go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/if-there-was-one-good-thing-that-came-out-of-all-this-it-was-that-i/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [You are the greatest thing that ever came into my life and I will not let anything take you away from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-grabil/you-are-the-greatest-thing-that-ever-came-into-my-life-and-i-will-not/) [Katie Grabil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-grabil/) > [I'm proud of you for the times you came in second, or third, or fourth, but what you did was the best you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/i-m-proud-of-you-for-the-times-you-came-in-second-or-third-or-fourth/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [It was always me and the other guy. I came in second for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-gretsch/it-was-always-me-and-the-other-guy-i-came-in-second-for-a-long-time/) [Joel Gretsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-gretsch/) > [Mind you, I've been here during the bad times too - one year we came second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-paisley/mind-you-i-ve-been-here-during-the-bad-times-too-one-year-we-came/) [Bob Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-paisley/) > [When I first heard about the possibility of doing a series, I didn't want to do it. When it came up a second time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/when-i-first-heard-about-the-possibility-of-doing-a-series-i-didn-t/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [Even when I finished third at the U.S. Open a few weeks back, I didn't putt very well, nor in the last round of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/even-when-i-finished-third-at-the-u-s-open-a-few-weeks-back-i-didn-t/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Nobody remembers who came in second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-remembers-who-came-in-second/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No one remembers who came in second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hagen/no-one-remembers-who-came-in-second/) [Walter Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hagen/) > [I was so keen to become a comedian that actually doing the comedy itself almost came second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dee/i-was-so-keen-to-become-a-comedian-that-actually-doing-the-comedy/) [Jack Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dee/) > [I came second in a 1,500-metre running race at school. I knew I couldn't have come first, so second was my version of first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-came-second-in-a-1-500-metre-running-race-at-school-i-knew-i-couldn/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [I wish my class had more kids but I came in second in the class. Like valedictorian runner up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-my-class-had-more-kids-but-i-came-in-second-in-the-class-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well, I came the second year. I mean I just fit right in. They wrote a great person and I'm so lucky that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aida-turturro/well-i-came-the-second-year-i-mean-i-just-fit-right-in-they-wrote-a/) [Aida Turturro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aida-turturro/) ## More by Thomas Haden Church > [As an actor I kind of do. I started out doing voice overs in the mid 80s when I was in grad school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/as-an-actor-i-kind-of-do-i-started-out-doing-voice-overs-in-the-mid/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [Cows are a lot smarter across the board than bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/cows-are-a-lot-smarter-across-the-board-than-bulls/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [When I moved to L.A. in 1989, the very first thing I did was this horrific pilot called To Protect And Surf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/when-i-moved-to-l-a-in-1989-the-very-first-thing-i-did-was-this/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I've been an admirer of Helen Mirren for a long time. As I get older, I find myself admiring older women who have poise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-ve-been-an-admirer-of-helen-mirren-for-a-long-time-as-i-get-older-i/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I certainly was an actor and then I drifted more towards writing and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-certainly-was-an-actor-and-then-i-drifted-more-towards-writing-and/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [Sight is about what lies right in front of us. Vision is what lies ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/sight-is-about-what-lies-right-in-front-of-us-vision-is-what-lies/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I made a comfortable living for several years. I invested, and I protected myself, so I enjoy that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-made-a-comfortable-living-for-several-years-i-invested-and-i/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [When I landed in L.A. in early '89, William Morris decided to take me on to see if I could get any jobs. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/when-i-landed-in-l-a-in-early-89-william-morris-decided-to-take-me-on/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I believe in singularity in relationships because you've got to have trust on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-believe-in-singularity-in-relationships-because-you-ve-got-to-have/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [Look at the Native American culture. They revere the elders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/look-at-the-native-american-culture-they-revere-the-elders/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I have a healthy sense of vanity. I like to look good for myself, which is what a lot of women say. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-have-a-healthy-sense-of-vanity-i-like-to-look-good-for-myself-which/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [And there have certainly been movies I wanted to be in and milestones I wanted to surpass that did not happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/and-there-have-certainly-been-movies-i-wanted-to-be-in-and-milestones/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [Last summer when we were preparing for the movie, I actually kind of wanted to stay fairly uninformed about it. As we went through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/last-summer-when-we-were-preparing-for-the-movie-i-actually-kind-of/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [The fact that I haven't been married might qualify me as belonging in the nutty category to a lot of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/the-fact-that-i-haven-t-been-married-might-qualify-me-as-belonging-in/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I did a series called Ned and Stacey for two years for Fox back in the 90s. I was writer on it as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-did-a-series-called-ned-and-stacey-for-two-years-for-fox-back-in/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) [Explore all 55 Thomas Haden Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) ## 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. 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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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I would do it in a second.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Haden Church" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing-came-along-i-would-do-it-in-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Right" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing-came-along-i-would-do-it-in-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/thomas-haden-church-12271_right_but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing_2430400.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But at the same time, if the right thing came along, I would do it in a second.” — Thomas Haden Church", "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": "Thomas Haden Church", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But at the same time, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing-came-along-i-would-do-it-in-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/but-at-the-same-time-if-the-right-thing-came-along-i-would-do-it-in-a/#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 } } ] } ```