--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it…" description: "\"If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It is much easier to apologise than it is to get permission.\" — Grace Hopper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/grace-hopper-16425_apologise_if-it-s-a-good-idea-go-ahead-and-do-it-i_1806791.png" --- # If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It is much easier… ![“If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It is much easier to apologise than it is to get permission.” quote by Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/grace-hopper-16425_apologise_if-it-s-a-good-idea-go-ahead-and-do-it-i_1806791.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/grace-hopper-16425_apologise_if-it-s-a-good-idea-go-ahead-and-do-it-i_1806791.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/grace-hopper-16425_apologise_if-it-s-a-good-idea-go-ahead-and-do-it-i_1806791.png) > “If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It is much easier to apologise than it is to get permission.” [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting on good ideas without waiting for permission accelerates progress. **In simple terms:** Do good ideas now, not later. Key Takeaway Act promptly on good ideas. Themes initiative risk‑taking innovation Mood determined forward‑looking Type motivational practical When to use this quote - startup launches - project proposals - policy advocacy - personal goals Key Concepts leadership technology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What idea will you act on today? - How can you balance speed with responsibility? A Different Perspective Impulsive actions may lead to unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Being a good leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-good-leader/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Future leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-leaders/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Good leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-leader/) [Good leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-leadership/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Leadership by famous leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-by-famous-leaders/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-taking/) ## Related quotes > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-manager-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists-not-so/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arleigh-burke/leadership-is-understanding-people-and-involving-them-to-help-you-do/) [Arleigh Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arleigh-burke/) > [Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-lifting-a-person-s-vision-to-high-sights-the-raising-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-building-of-a-personality-beyond-its-normal-limitations/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/you-can-t-blow-an-uncertain-trumpet/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [Leadership is defined by results not attributes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-defined-by-results-not-attributes/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [High sentiments always win in the end. The leaders who offer blood, toil, tears and sweat always get more out of their followers than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/high-sentiments-always-win-in-the-end-the-leaders-who-offer-blood/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [A leader leads by example not by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-leader-leads-by-example-not-by-force/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## More by Grace Hopper > [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/) > [I've received many honors and I'm grateful for them; but I've already received the highest award I'll ever receive, and that has been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/i-ve-received-many-honors-and-i-m-grateful-for-them-but-i-ve-already/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [No computer is ever going to ask a new, reasonable question. It takes trained people to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/no-computer-is-ever-going-to-ask-a-new-reasonable-question-it-takes/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [If one ox could not do the job they did not try to grow a bigger ox, but used two oxen. When we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/if-one-ox-could-not-do-the-job-they-did-not-try-to-grow-a-bigger-ox/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/the-most-damaging-phrase-in-the-language-is-it-s-always-been-done/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [You manage things and lead people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/you-manage-things-and-lead-people/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It's much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/if-it-s-a-good-idea-go-ahead-and-do-it-it-s-much-easier-to-apologize/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [Some day, on the corporate balance sheet, there will be an entry which reads, "Information"; for in most cases, the information is more valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/some-day-on-the-corporate-balance-sheet-there-will-be-an-entry-which/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [The only phrase I've ever disliked is, 'Why, we've always done it that way.' I always tell young people, 'Go ahead and do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/the-only-phrase-i-ve-ever-disliked-is-why-we-ve-always-done-it-that/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [If you want my ghost just say ' We've always done it that way.' and i will haunt you for 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/if-you-want-my-ghost-just-say-we-ve-always-done-it-that-way-and-i/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [To me programming is more than an important practical art. It is also a gigantic undertaking in the foundations of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/to-me-programming-is-more-than-an-important-practical-art-it-is-also/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/it-is-often-easier-to-ask-for-forgiveness-than-to-ask-for-permission/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/a-ship-in-port-is-safe-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-built-for/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [It's always easier to apologize for something you've already done than to get approval for it in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/it-s-always-easier-to-apologize-for-something-you-ve-already-done/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [We're flooding people with information. We need to feed it through a processor. A human must turn information into intelligence or knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/we-re-flooding-people-with-information-we-need-to-feed-it-through-a/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) [Explore all 40 Grace Hopper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) ## More Apologise quotes > [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Too Often We Dont Realize What We Have Until its Gone¦ We are too stubborn to say,sorry I was wrong. We Hurt The Ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swag-jagar/too-often-we-dont-realize-what-we-have-until-its-gone-we-are-too/) Swag Jagar > [Everybody is likely to make mistakes at times but it's important we learn from it, apologise, recognise where you've gone wrong and keep improving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/everybody-is-likely-to-make-mistakes-at-times-but-it-s-important-we/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [“If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-even-dream-of-beating-me-you-better-wake-up-and-apologise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/there-is-no-excuse-nor-should-there-be-any-tolerance-for-anyone-who/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [I tried to push him away with my head. I apologise to everyone. I should not have got involved in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/i-tried-to-push-him-away-with-my-head-i-apologise-to-everyone-i/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [Your apologies don't mean much to me any more. You apologise but you never change. It's a waste of time believing that you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/your-apologies-don-t-mean-much-to-me-any-more-you-apologise-but-you/) Unkown > [What I said Wasn't wise It wasn't even true I apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/what-i-said-wasn-t-wise-it-wasn-t-even-true-i-apologise/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [I am constantly accused of being 'First World.' So what should I do? I can't apologise for my environment, upbringing, aesthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-johar/i-am-constantly-accused-of-being-first-world-so-what-should-i-do-i/) [Karan Johar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-johar/) > [“The one thing you should never do to a woman, whether you make love to her or fuck her, is apologise straight after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/the-one-thing-you-should-never-do-to-a-woman-whether-you-make-love-to/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/when-a-man-holds-you-round-the-throat-i-don-t-think-he-has-come-to/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [“Never apologise for who you are or where you come from, those who love you will love you just the way you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-kanyera/never-apologise-for-who-you-are-or-where-you-come-from-those-who-love/) [Audrey Kanyera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-kanyera/) > [Anger starts from your foolishness and ends up when you apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubhi-sharma/anger-starts-from-your-foolishness-and-ends-up-when-you-apologise/) [Shubhi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubhi-sharma/) > [“Most of the problems in life are because: We misunderstand people's intentions, We don't listen and jump to conclusions, Then we are too proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/most-of-the-problems-in-life-are-because-we-misunderstand-people-s/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [I'm very sorry to Mr. Gabas, to whom I apologised in person. Very sorry for letting my Davis Cup teammates down and for letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-shapovalov/i-m-very-sorry-to-mr-gabas-to-whom-i-apologised-in-person-very-sorry/) [Denis Shapovalov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-shapovalov/) Browse all 114 Apologise quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. 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