It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Meaning of the quote

This quote means that sometimes it's better to just go ahead and do something, instead of asking for permission first. This can be because it's quicker or easier to ask for forgiveness later, rather than getting permission which might be difficult or take a long time. The idea is that it's sometimes better to act first and deal with the consequences later, rather than worrying too much about getting approval beforehand.