"You have to really think about things before you do them"
About this Quote
Coming from an actor, the subtext is especially pointed. Acting is often misread as pure instinct, a lightning bolt of feeling. In practice, it's engineered: choices about timing, gesture, tone, and what not to show. Roberts is defending craft over chaos, insisting that authenticity isn't the opposite of preparation; it's the result of it. The word "really" matters here - not just thinking, but sustained, uncomfortable consideration that filters out ego and adrenaline.
There's also a moral undertone that feels generational. Born in 1921, Roberts lived through eras when consequences were less abstract: war, economic shocks, public reputations that could be permanently damaged without a handy rebrand. The quote doesn't glamorize overthinking; it argues for responsibility. "Before you do them" frames action as the point, not the enemy. Think first, then commit.
Culturally, it reads now as an antidote to the dopamine economy. It's advice that resists virality because it resists speed. And that's precisely why it sticks.
Quote Details
| Topic | Decision-Making |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Roberts, Mark. (2026, January 15). You have to really think about things before you do them. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-really-think-about-things-before-you-148995/
Chicago Style
Roberts, Mark. "You have to really think about things before you do them." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-really-think-about-things-before-you-148995/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You have to really think about things before you do them." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-have-to-really-think-about-things-before-you-148995/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.






