“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction” is frequently credited to Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), but there is no evidence that he ever said it. “Imperfect action is better for men and societies than perfection in waiting, for the errors wrought by action are cured by new action” was cited in print in 1947. “Imperfect action is far better than perfect inaction” was cited in print in 1985. “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction” was cited in print in 2005.
 
“Done is better than perfect” (often credited to Sheryl Sandberg) is a similar saying.
 
   
JSTOR
Amazon.com
The Indians of the Americas
By John Collier
New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company
1947
Pg. 281:
Imperfect action is better for men and societies than perfection in waiting, for the errors wrought by action are cured by new action.
 
12 September 1985, The Daily Herald (Chicago, IL), “Chamber Comments (Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce), sec. 5, pg. 3, col. 5:
IMPERFECT action is far better than perfect inaction.
   
Google Books
78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might
By Pat Walsh
New York, NY: Penguin Books
2005
Pg. ?:
In other words, imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.
 
Google Books
Build It Big:
101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts
By Ebrary, Inc.
Chicago, IL: Dearborn Trade Pub.
2005
Pg. 106:
No matter what you do, don’t idle too long wondering about what to do—just do something! Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.
 
Believe Achieve
FEBRUARY 4, 2009
Interview with Giovanna Garcia of Imperfect Action - Part On
(...)
Today, Inspirational Speaker and Success Coach, Giovanna Garcia of Imperfect Action, shares her message “Imperfect Action is Better than No Action.” Her message is empowering thousands to take action in their lives. We had the grand honor of interviewing her and found her message of “Imperfect Action” worked synergistically with “Believe Achieve.”
 
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GiANT Impact
‏@giantimpact
“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” Harry Truman #quote #leadership
3:37 PM - 2 Nov 2009
 
Wikiquote: Talk:Harry S. Truman
“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction”
I’ve seen this quoted a handful of times, always attributed to Harry S. Truman, but nothing reliable indicating he actually said it. Did he originate the phrase? If not, who did?
Chad Schultz (talk) 18:45, 13 October 2013 (UTC)
 
Twitter
Matt Lindgren
‏@MatthewLindgren
Photo: Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction. Harry S. Truman http://tmblr.co/Ztdoxv-iNmAK
2:01 PM - 28 Nov 2013