--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it. One thing that being in the military…" description: "\"“it. One thing that being in the military had taught me, is that it is better to act and ask forgiveness, than to hesitate and ask permission. ”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/craig-alanson-17860_forgiveness_it-one-thing-that-being-in-the-military_2395650.jpg" --- # it. One thing that being in the military had taught me, is… ![“it. One thing that being in the military had taught me, is that it is better to act and ask forgiveness, than to hesitate and ask permission.” quote by Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/craig-alanson-17860_forgiveness_it-one-thing-that-being-in-the-military_2395650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/craig-alanson-17860_forgiveness_it-one-thing-that-being-in-the-military_2395650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/craig-alanson-17860_forgiveness_it-one-thing-that-being-in-the-military_2395650.jpg) > ““it. One thing that being in the military had taught me, is that it is better to act and ask forgiveness, than to hesitate and ask permission.    ”” [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Act first, seek forgiveness later; taking over hesitation that can stall progress. **In simple terms:** Take action, worry about permission later. Key Takeaway Prioritize decisive action over indecision. Themes leadership initiative risk‑taking Mood assertive pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - project management - emergency response - personal decisions Key Concepts military ethos decision theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to ask forgiveness? - How does hesitation affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Risk of reckless actions without accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ## Related quotes > [Don't ask permission, just ask forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/don-t-ask-permission-just-ask-forgiveness/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [My whole life I have sort of done my own thing. I rarely ask permission; I sometimes ask forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walter-hauser/my-whole-life-i-have-sort-of-done-my-own-thing-i-rarely-ask/) [Paul Walter Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walter-hauser/) > [Dont ask permission, just ask forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/dont-ask-permission-just-ask-forgiveness/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [In the military, we are also taught to only use one third of the available decision-making time, so that our subordinates have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/in-the-military-we-are-also-taught-to-only-use-one-third-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The military taught me discipline, how to problem solve, teamwork and loyalty, a perfect parallel to the kitchen. If we could take that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-irvine/the-military-taught-me-discipline-how-to-problem-solve-teamwork-and/) [Robert Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-irvine/) > [The military taught me that teamwork is important, which is why I work with both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to get things done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/the-military-taught-me-that-teamwork-is-important-which-is-why-i-work/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [The military taught me the importance of getting something done in a timely manner and the importance of completing a mission on time. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-young/the-military-taught-me-the-importance-of-getting-something-done-in-a/) [Don Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-young/) > [Our military has taught Americans the value of camaraderie and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/our-military-has-taught-americans-the-value-of-camaraderie-and/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [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/) > [There is no sin that God cannot pardon. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-is-no-sin-that-god-cannot-pardon-all-we-need-to-do-is-ask-for/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marsden/ask-for-forgiveness-not-permission/) [John Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marsden/) > [Learn to ask for forgiveness for the wrongs you've done because you will not die if you swallow your pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/learn-to-ask-for-forgiveness-for-the-wrongs-you-ve-done-because-you/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Ask forgiveness for mine, so I know that I'm good. All them niggas we robbed, trips T man took.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/ask-forgiveness-for-mine-so-i-know-that-i-m-good-all-them-niggas-we/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [“it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-torre/it-s-easier-to-ask-for-forgiveness-than-permission/) [Alessandra Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-torre/) > [It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/it-s-easier-to-ask-forgiveness-than-it-is-to-get-permission/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) ## More by Craig Alanson > [“Amateurs discuss tactics. Professionals discuss logistics’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/amateurs-discuss-tactics-professionals-discuss-logistics/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“We could go directly from, say, Atlanta to Duluth, instead of going Atlanta-Dallas-Chicago-Detroit-Duluth. Except, of course, there is no reason for anyone to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/we-could-go-directly-from-say-atlanta-to-duluth-instead-of-going/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“I was not going to let fear of criticism make me shy away from doing what I thought was right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/i-was-not-going-to-let-fear-of-criticism-make-me-shy-away-from-doing/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“Break the problem down into manageable pieces, then solve each piece. Think of the problem as an enemy, and defeat them in detail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/break-the-problem-down-into-manageable-pieces-then-solve-each-piece/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“It’s not the touch, it’s knowing that you’re not alone, that someone cares about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/it-s-not-the-touch-it-s-knowing-that-you-re-not-alone-that-someone/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“But you’re not that smart, I mean, your species is responsible for Windows Vista.” “Vist- that was a long time ago!” “It’s still an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/but-you-re-not-that-smart-i-mean-your-species-is-responsible-for/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“although she used her frequent coffee buyer card, so I guessed that she got coffee there often. The shop wasn’t empty as I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/although-she-used-her-frequent-coffee-buyer-card-so-i-guessed-that/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“No problem. Seriously, Joe, women have just as much trouble understanding men, as men have trouble understanding women. The difference is, women generally want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/no-problem-seriously-joe-women-have-just-as-much-trouble/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“Bitches be crazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/bitches-be-crazy/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“I like pineapple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/i-like-pineapple/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“At my level, the laws of physics are more like suggestions. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/at-my-level-the-laws-of-physics-are-more-like-suggestions-and/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“We fight the wars. Politicians start them.” Chotek nodded, and sighed heavily. “And diplomats end wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/we-fight-the-wars-politicians-start-them-chotek-nodded-and-sighed/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“No, I pull in other resources as needed, I've never used more than seven percent of my capacity so far since I met you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/no-i-pull-in-other-resources-as-needed-i-ve-never-used-more-than/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“Friedlander chuckled. “Why did the two blondes freeze to death at the drive-in theater?” “I don’t know?” “They went to see ‘Closed for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/friedlander-chuckled-why-did-the-two-blondes-freeze-to-death-at-the/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [“the big problem is the lubricant contaminating the shaft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/the-big-problem-is-the-lubricant-contaminating-the-shaft/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) [Explore all 36 Craig Alanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) [Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it. 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