ask forgiveness get permission

[Christopher Philippo]

On Jun 22, 2014, at 11:31 AM, Herb Stahlke <hfwstahlke at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I learned it as "It's easier to apologize that to ask for permission."

Asking generally isn’t hard, barring anxiety about doing so.  Getting permission can be difficult to secure.  Apologizing or asking for forgiveness, barring hangups about making apologies or actually being sincere about it, is also generally not hard.  Obtaining forgiveness or the acceptance of an apology can be difficult.

“It’s easier to apologize than to get permission” makes the most sense - not that expressions need necessarily make sense.

“Harry Ewens, Town Planning Board chairman, agreed with [Seneca Falls Village Planning Board chairman Allen K.] Strong’s statements, and said that too many people go ahead with construction before obtaining building permits.  They've found it's 'a lot easier to get forgiveness than permission.'"
Stone, Karen. “Says board chairman—No enforcement for zoning law.” Geneva Times [NY]. September 1, 1971: 13 col 6.

“The only way to get some things done is to do them, and this is one of the things.  It is a great deal easier to apologize for an act of self defence than to endure persistent robbery and insult.”
N.Y. Daily Graphic. May 4, 1876: 516 col 2.

Variants, if failure to ask and obtain permission could be covered by neglect:

“It is easier to apologize for self assertion than for neglect.”
Smith, Duncan M. “Pert Paragraphs.” Oswego Daily Palladium [NY]. July 6, 1906: 10 col 4.

“It is easier to apologize for what you didn’t do than for what you did wrong.”
“Pointed Paragraphs.” Duluth Evening Herald [MN]. January 14, 1908: 6 col 4.

“The way to get things done is to do them.” Home Republican [NY]. December 8, 1898: 2 col 5.

Chris
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