Citations:it's better to ask forgiveness than permission

Pre-proverbial usage

• 1846, Agnes Strickland with Elizabeth Strickland, “Mary Beatrice Of Modena, Queen Consort of James II., King of Great Britain, &c—”, in Lives of the queens of England, from the Norman conquest., volume Ninth, page 39:

  But, in truth, the cardinal Barberini, on whom the duchess had great dependence, and all the other adherents and relations of the house of Este, being every day more and more convinced of the honour and interest they were like to find in this alliance, were scandalized at the unreasonable obstinacy of the pope and his nephew, and did frankly advise the duchess of Modena to conclude the marriage at once; it being less difficult to obtain forgiveness for it after it was done, than permission for doing it."

Grace Murray Hopper

"Hopper’s legendary standing has much to do with her persistence and absolute belief in the limitless power of computing technology and her impatience with bureaucracy. She is remembered for her now famous quip, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission."" Wikiquote:Grace_Hopper