Permission Quote by Gene Kim
““When we asked for permission, we were told no, but we did it anyway, because we knew we needed it.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Phoenix Project, Gene Kim, 2013
Defying authority can be justified when the goal is essential and the system blocks progress.
In simple terms: Sometimes you must act despite denial.
Key Takeaway
Act when necessary, even if told no.
Themes
authority
innovation
risk
Mood
determined
defiant
Type
motivational
strategic
When to use this quote
- startup pivots
- social activism
- emergency response
- bureaucratic hurdles
Key Concepts
ethical decision-making
organizational change
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it right to ignore a denial?
- What risks do you accept?
A Different Perspective
May lead to conflict or legal issues.
![“[Chorus:] Did you ever hear what I told you? Did you ever read what I wrote you? Did you ever listen to what we played? Did you ever let in what the world said?” quote by Nightwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/900/nightwish-18444_did-hear_chorus-did-you-ever-hear-what-i-told-you_2263401.jpg)
![“Bill Baker, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft, quipped that we used to treat servers like pets: “You name them and when they get sick, you nurse them back to health. [Now] servers are [treated] like cattle. You number them and when they get sick, you shoot them.” quote by Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/gene-kim-2268_health_bill-baker-a-distinguished-engineer-at-m_187582.jpg)
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
![“NaNo[ National Novel Writing Month] is an awesome opportunity to stretch your writing muscles and gives you permission to write in a way you probably wouldn't do in a normal circumstance.” quote by Michelle J. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/03c/michelle-j-howard-79654_books_nano-national-novel-writing-month-is-an_30871.jpg)
