With the press there is no ‘off the record.’
DONALD RUMSFELDPolitics is human beings; it’s addition rather than subtraction.
More Donald Rumsfeld Quotes
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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.
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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 are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
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Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
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It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.
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Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn’t exist.
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Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.
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Let’s stick something in the ground and not pretend that it’s perfect.
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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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It isn’t making mistakes that’s critical; it’s correcting them and getting on with the principal task.
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Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos.
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If we know anything, it is that weakness is provocative.
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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 you try to please everybody, somebody’s not going to like it.
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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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Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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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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Everyone’s saying you can’t do anything until you can do everything.
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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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Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.
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Those who made the decisions with imperfect knowledge will be judged in hindsight by those with considerably more information at their disposal and time for reflection.
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Every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
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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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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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You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.
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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 RUMSFELD