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Why You Should Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission
The real meaning behind Admiral Grace Hopper’s advice
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Often quoted among entrepreneurs and social justice advocates, the aphorism “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission” is frequently encountered in different contexts.
But what exactly does this advice mean and where did it come from?
Credit for this quote goes to computing pioneer and U.S. Naval officer Grace Hopper who developed the first compiler and became one of the first women promoted to rear admiral in the United States Navy.
Nickname? “Amazing Grace.”
What did she mean by her statement? Admiral Hopper wasn’t advocating for impulsivity or a world where rules are discarded in favor of chaos.
She was commenting on the enormous amount of red tape that one often has to navigate in order to effect any real change.
If you’ve ever worked in a large company or organization, you know that gaining approval for a new idea is nearly impossible because of the hierarchy of levels you have to wade through in order to get permission.
These difficulties are also prominently on display in our congressional and legal systems.