Agreement can always be reached by increasing the generality of the conclusion; when this is done, the form is generally preserved but only the illusion of policy is created.
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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With the press there is no ‘off the record.’
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Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers.
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Prune – prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.
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If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
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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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Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive.
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What you measure improves.” A corollary rule in the military is that “You get what you inspect, not what you expect.
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It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.
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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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Whatever your position, reach out to those who know more than you do, and have been around longer than you have. Find those people. Listen carefully. And learn.
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Let’s stick something in the ground and not pretend that it’s perfect.
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Every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
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Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers – they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.
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Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
DONALD RUMSFELD