If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.
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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If you try to please everybody, somebody’s not going to like it.
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If you develop rules, never have more than ten.
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Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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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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If in doubt, don’t. If still in doubt, do what’s right.
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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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Presidential leadership needn’t always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
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The way to do well is to do well.
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Every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
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Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.
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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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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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Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.
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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.
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Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was – by a taxpayer.
DONALD RUMSFELD







