--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to ask for an apology than…" description: "\"It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for permission.\" — Christopher Paolini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png" --- # It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for… ![“It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for permission.” quote by Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png) > “It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for permission.” [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking permission may limit action; asking for forgiveness encourages initiative. **In simple terms:** Act first, apologize later. Key Takeaway Take bold steps without waiting. Themes initiative risk freedom Mood encouraging pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career moves Key Concepts creative projects entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to bypass permission? - What risks arise from acting without consent? A Different Perspective Permission can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Apology Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology-ask-2550395/) [Ask Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-apology-2550396/) [Ask Permission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-permission-747911/) [Better Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-ask-1409007/) [Permission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permission/) ## Related quotes > [It's better to ask forgiveness than permission. - Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-s-better-to-ask-forgiveness-than-permission-brom/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Who wanted a hug you had to ask for? It was like having to ask for an apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/who-wanted-a-hug-you-had-to-ask-for-it-was-like-having-to-ask-for-an/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [I shouldn't have to ask for your permission for me to put you in my lie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-shouldn-t-have-to-ask-for-your-permission-for-me-to-put-you-in-my/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [When you are sinlge you never have to ask for permission to orgasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-sinlge-you-never-have-to-ask-for-permission-to-orgasm/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Your heart will never ask your permission to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-quindlen/your-heart-will-never-ask-your-permission-to-love/) [Kelly Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-quindlen/) > [“Power does not ask permission. Power does not take permission. Power does not need permission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/power-does-not-ask-permission-power-does-not-take-permission-power/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Entrepreneurs don’t ask for permission. They act per a mission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/entrepreneurs-don-t-ask-for-permission-they-act-per-a-mission/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [I hate having to ask permission to do everything, its one of those gay things that comes with being young & having caring parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-having-to-ask-permission-to-do-everything-its-one-of-those-gay/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never ask for permission, beg for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbi-brown/never-ask-for-permission-beg-for-forgiveness/) [Bobbi Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobbi-brown/) > [“Sometimes it's better not to ask-or to listen-when tell you something can't be done. I didn't ask for permission or approval. I just went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/sometimes-it-s-better-not-to-ask-or-to-listen-when-tell-you-something/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [I always say, better ask forgiveness than permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-always-say-better-ask-forgiveness-than-permission/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Recently, I wrote that feminism was 'finding a way of being a girl that doesn't hurt' a way for girls and women to re-negotiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-ford/recently-i-wrote-that-feminism-was-finding-a-way-of-being-a-girl-that/) [Clementine Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-ford/) > [“The question to ask, when you feel pride, then, is this: What am I missing right now that a more humble person might see?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-question-to-ask-when-you-feel-pride-then-is-this-what-am-i/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Sometimes I think that it's better to never ask why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-think-that-it-s-better-to-never-ask-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is better to ask many times to repeat the explanation than to claim to have understood incorrectly in haste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-ask-many-times-to-repeat-the-explanation-than-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) ## More by Christopher Paolini > [Life is pain...anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/life-is-pain-anyone-who-tells-you-otherwise-is-selling-something/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [If he fancied her anymore," Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, "I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself." "Saphira!" Mortified, Eragon swatted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/if-he-fancied-her-anymore-saphira-said-to-both-eragon-and-roran-i-d/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Clear your mind of such thoughts. They cannot be answered and will make you no happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/clear-your-mind-of-such-thoughts-they-cannot-be-answered-and-will/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-don-t-discuss-my-own-beliefs-in-public-but-i-will-say-the-beliefs-i/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've never been helpless, I just have powerful enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-never-been-helpless-i-just-have-powerful-enemies/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Islanzadi sighed, and suddenly appeared tired. “Ormomis may have been your proper teacher, but you have proved yourself to be Brom’s heir, not Oromis’s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/islanzadi-sighed-and-suddenly-appeared-tired-ormomis-may-have-been/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another - and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/regardless-of-whether-i-can-shift-my-affections-to-another-and-the/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“You worry about a crack in the floor while the whole mountain is about to come down on us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/you-worry-about-a-crack-in-the-floor-while-the-whole-mountain-is/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“The only thing she could be certain of was that she existed. All else was suspect, even her own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-only-thing-she-could-be-certain-of-was-that-she-existed-all-else/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“But you possess one quality that no one else does. Oh? Your identity. Your history, deeds and situation. Use those to shape your creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/but-you-possess-one-quality-that-no-one-else-does-oh-your-identity/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Left weaponless, Roran was forced to retreat before the remaining soldier. He stumbled over a corpse, cutting his calf on a sword as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/left-weaponless-roran-was-forced-to-retreat-before-the-remaining/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Let go of your worries and focus only on the task at hand. The future will be what it will, and fretting about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/let-go-of-your-worries-and-focus-only-on-the-task-at-hand-the-future/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've always been very grateful that enough people have enjoyed reading what I've written that I've been able to pursue writing professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-always-been-very-grateful-that-enough-people-have-enjoyed/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) [Explore all 393 Christopher Paolini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for permission.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Paolini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than-to-ask-for-permission/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than-to-ask-for-permission/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/christopher-paolini-622_apology_it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than_2677131.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to ask for an apology than to ask for permission.” — Christopher Paolini", "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": "Christopher Paolini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to ask for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than-to-ask-for-permission/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-is-better-to-ask-for-an-apology-than-to-ask-for-permission/#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 } } ] } ```