Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals.
DONALD RUMSFELDIf in doubt, don’t. If still in doubt, do what’s right.
More Donald Rumsfeld Quotes
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If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.
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It isn’t making mistakes that’s critical; it’s correcting them and getting on with the principal task.
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Politics is human beings; it’s addition rather than subtraction.
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Let’s stick something in the ground and not pretend that it’s perfect.
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Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.
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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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Preserve the President’s options. He may need them.
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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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There 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.
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Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.
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If you try to please everybody, somebody’s not going to like 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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If it were a fact, it wouldn’t be called intelligence.
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Don’t blame the boss. He has enough problems.
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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.
DONALD RUMSFELD