1.
The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.'
Grace Hopper
'The most detrimental expression in the language is: 'It's an established practice.'
2.
Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that. That's why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.
Grace Hopper
Humans tend to resist transformation. They take pleasure in reiterating, 'We've done it this way for years.' I strive to defy this. That is why my wall clock runs in a reverse direction.
3.
A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.
Grace Hopper
A vessel at harbor is secure, however that is not its intended purpose.
4.
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. You can always apologize later.'
Grace Hopper
'I abhor the idea of blindly adhering to tradition. I always encourage young people to take risks and accept responsibility for their actions - even if it means admitting mistakes afterwards.'
5.
To me programming is more than an important practical art. It is also a gigantic undertaking in the foundations of knowledge.
Grace Hopper
To me, programming is more than just an essential practical craft. It is a tremendous effort in the basis of understanding.
6.
No computer is ever going to ask a new, reasonable question. It takes trained people to do that.
Grace Hopper
No machine is ever going to generate an innovative, sensible query. It takes educated individuals to accomplish that.
7.
You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership.
Grace Hopper
8.
It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
Grace Hopper
9.
One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions.
Grace Hopper
10.
Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down.
Respect for one's superiors; care for one's crew.
Grace Hopper
11.
I am now going to make you a gift that will stay with you the rest of your life. For the rest of your life, every time you say, "We've always done it that way," my ghost will appear and haunt you for twenty-four hours.
Grace Hopper
12.
The glass is neither half empty nor half full. It's simply larger than it needs to be. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission
Grace Hopper
13.
I've always been more interested in the future than in the past.
Grace Hopper
14.
I'm totally against women in combat, because we live in a culture and a society that imposes on every man the concept of women and children first...If you had a man and a woman trying to go through some dangerous woods, the man's instinct would be to protect the woman. Therefore you weaken the man.
Grace Hopper
15.
From then on, when anything went wrong with a computer, we said it had bugs in it.
Grace Hopper
16.
If you do something once, people will call it an accident. If you do it twice, they call it a coincidence. But do it a third time and you've just proven a natural law!
Grace Hopper
17.
Some day, on the corporate balance sheet, there will be an entry which reads, "Information"; for in most cases, the information is more valuable than the hardware which processes it.
Grace Hopper
18.
If one ox could not do the job they did not try to grow a bigger ox, but used two oxen. When we need greater computer power, the answer is not to get a bigger computer, but . . .to build systems of computers and operate them in parallel.
Grace Hopper
19.
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.
Grace Hopper
20.
If you want my ghost just say ' We've always done it that way.' and i will haunt you for 24 hours.
Grace Hopper
21.
I had a running compiler and nobody would touch it. They told me computers could only do arithmetic.
Grace Hopper
22.
You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership. It might help if we ran the MBAs out of Washington.
Grace Hopper
23.
It is easier to apologize than to get permission.
Grace Hopper
24.
At any given moment, there is always a line representing what your boss will believe. If you step over it, you will not get your budget. Go as close to that line as you can.
Grace Hopper
25.
I will not take what you need to give me. I will take what you want to give me.
Grace Hopper
26.
It's always easier to apologize for something you've already done than to get approval for it in advance.
Grace Hopper
27.
We're just getting started. We're just beginning to meet what will be the future-we've got the Model T.
Grace Hopper
28.
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
29.
Developing a compiler was a logical move; but in matters like this, you don't run against logic - you run against people who can't change their minds.
Grace Hopper
30.
We're flooding people with information. We need to feed it through a processor. A human must turn information into intelligence or knowledge.
Grace Hopper
31.
It's easier to apologize than ask for permission.
Grace Hopper
32.
We've tended to forget that no computer will ever ask a new question.
Grace Hopper
33.
Manage things. Lead people.
Grace Hopper
34.
I need something to compare this to. Could I please have a microsecond?
Grace Hopper
35.
If it isn't bolted down, bring it home.
Grace Hopper
36.
You manage things and lead people.
Grace Hopper
