Let’s stick something in the ground and not pretend that it’s perfect.
DONALD RUMSFELDThere 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.
More Donald Rumsfeld Quotes
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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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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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If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
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Politics is human beings; it’s addition rather than subtraction.
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The way to do well is to do well.
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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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If in doubt, don’t. If still in doubt, do what’s right.
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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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If it were a fact, it wouldn’t be called intelligence.
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Think ahead. Don’t let day-to-day operations drive out planning.
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Every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
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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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It isn’t making mistakes that’s critical; it’s correcting them and getting on with the principal task.
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Prune – prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.
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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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Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.
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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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Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.
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With the press there is no ‘off the record.’
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Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
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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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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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Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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Don’t blame the boss. He has enough problems.
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There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that’s just a fact.
DONALD RUMSFELD