Grace Hopper Quotes

The most dangerous phrase in the language is we've always done

It is better to beg forgiveness, than ask permission.

"Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down."

(CBS 60 Minutes interview, March 6, 1983)

Wouldn’t it be dull to do things that ended?

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.

This saying has been in print already 1957, in Gerald Kershs "Fowler's End", p. 23.

I had a running compiler and nobody would touch it. ... they carefully told me, computers could only do arithmetic; they could not do programs.

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 privilege and honor of serving very proudly in the United States Navy.

Life was simple before World War II. After that, we had systems.

There's something you learn in your first boot-camp, or training camp: If they put you down somewhere with nothing to do, go to sleep — you don't know when you'll get any more.

[The Computer] was the first machine man built that assisted the power of his brain instead of the strength of his arm.

The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

If in doubt – do it.

The most dangerous phrase in the language is 'We've always done it this way!'".

I handed my passport to the immigration officer, and he looked at it and looked at me and said, "What are you?"