You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.
DONALD RUMSFELDThere are no “knowns.” There are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don’t know.
More Donald Rumsfeld Quotes
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The way to do well is to do well.
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Let your family, staff, and friends know that you’re still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.
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Presidential leadership needn’t always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
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Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.
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There are known knowns, things we know that we know; and there are known unknowns, things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns, things we do not know we don’t know.
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If you develop rules, never have more than ten.
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Everyone’s saying you can’t do anything until you can do everything.
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There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that’s just a fact.
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Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented.
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Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.
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Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
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First rule of politics: you can’t win unless you’re on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win.
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If in doubt, don’t. If still in doubt, do what’s right.
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Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House.
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If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.
DONALD RUMSFELD