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Donald Rumsfeld Quotes - IQDb - Internet Quotes Database

Quotes from Donald Rumsfeld


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Don't divide the world into 'them' and 'us.' Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as facts. They have their jobs and you have yours.


If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't 'sail' anyway. Send it back for further thought.


Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer.


Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.


Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.


Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist.


It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task.


Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, 'Well, where's the smoking gun?' Well, we don't want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction.


Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.


I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that.


Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.


There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.


Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.


When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision and also a precedent. Pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later.


Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.


If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.


Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.


It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.


The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don't tell him the truth. Others won't do it.


Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems.