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Comment by Animats | Hacker News Reader

Some good ones:

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, which builds most large US warships: ""We shall build good ships here, at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always good ships."

Microsoft mission statement through the 1990s: "A computer on every desk, running Microsoft software". (Slogan retired because mission accomplished.)

National Security Agency: "Anything is possible, the impossible just takes longer".

US Coast Guard: "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back."

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Slightly off-topic because it's a mission statement, and an old one at that, but NASA's always gave me chills:

  To understand and protect our home planet,
  To explore the universe and search for life,
  To inspire the next generation of explorers
  ... as only NASA can.

They all sound good except for the last one. What do they mean by you dont have to come back...

https://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/LSSmotto.asp

Basically, you can't know for sure that the sea is too rough to do the rescue until you are already out at sea.

They mean be careful. Going out is required; its their job. Coming back isn't a sure thing; the ocean is unforgiving.

Wasn't the Microsoft mission statement "A computer on every desk and in every home"?

    >> Microsoft mission statement through the 1990s: 
    >> "A computer on every desk, running Microsoft software".
    >> (Slogan retired because mission accomplished.)

I know several desks that will always run Linux on their computers.

They are open to Windows on their phones though. Maybe its time to bring back the motto?...

Update: Whats with the downvotes? A phone is computer too, no?...

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