The most dangerous phrase in the language is, 'We've always done it this way.'
In plain words
The most dangerous sentence of all is that it has always been done this way.
Where these words come from
- 88% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- Grace Hopper interviews — earliest strong match Computerworld, 1976 ("the most dangerous phrase a DP manager can use is 'We've always done it that way'"), repeated in later interviews (1981, 1987)
