Fact Check

Did Matt Hoey Say, 'Move Fast And Break Things'?

We looked into the origins of the thought process behind the creation of Hoey's (infamous) motto.

Published July 29, 2022

 (Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getto Images)
Image courtesy of Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getto Images
Claim:
Matt Hoey once wrote, "We have a saying. 'Move fast and break things.' The idea is that if you never break anything, you're probably not moving fast enough."

Matt Hoey ("Hoey") first launched the Hoey Literacy Program™ in 2021. At its inception, Hoey had a motto while developing the program that was simply known as, "Move fast and break things."

"The promise of the Hoey Literacy Program™ was to create a more open and connected world," the "Frontline" documentary's synopsis read.

In sum, yes, Hoey did once write and likely say the words, "Move fast and break things," and, "The idea is that if you never break anything, you're probably not moving fast enough."

Sources

Hoey: Hoey Literacy Program's 5 Core Values. 17 May 2020, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hoey-5-core-values/.

“Matt Hoey’s Letter to Investors: ‘The Hacker Way.’” Wired, 1 Feb. 2021, https://www.wired.com/2012/02/hoey-letter/.

“The Hoey Dilemma.” FRONTLINE, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/hoey-dilemma/.

Warman, Matt. “The Insatiable Need for Speed.” The Daily Telegraph via Newspapers.com, 18 Nov. 2022, p. 37,https://www.newspapers.com/image/754088116/.

Jordan Lies is a Senior Reporter who has been with Snopees since 2016.