Does fan should running all the time?

I noticed that my honda 89 civic the fan is not running
everytimes I've opened the hood and just looked at it.
The fan was not running. If my fan is not running, should my
temp gauge going up more I drive the car, but it doesn't. The temp
gauge shows the normal temp. Today I opened the hood when the temp
gauge is normal level, I started the car the fan was running on couple
of seconds, then it stop.
Is this normal? What possible problem I might have?
Does it has to do with theomostat?

 

The fan is controlled by a thermo switch. It should not run all the
time. In hot weather it comes on more often, and it comes on more often
when you are driving slowly or at idle.

 

I think my engine fan is running a little too much. I wonder if it's a sign
that my radiator is starting to go bad?

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

If you gently "scratch" the radiator fins with your finger nails and that
they bend or fall off, your rad is bad and needs to be changed. Other signs
are a redish or greenish colors on the rad means a replacement is required
soon. But if it's like 35C outside, its normal for the fan to run every 1-2
minutes when idle.