Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

Remember where you came from.

Remember where you came from.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you...

Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you...

Keep your sense of humor. As General Joe Stillwell said, The higher a monkey climbs,...

Keep your sense of humor. As General Joe Stillwell said, The higher a monkey climbs,...

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...

Don't divide the world into hem and us. Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the...

Don't divide the world into hem and us. Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the...

Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of...

Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of...

Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying...

Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying...

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all...

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all...

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be...

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be...

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really...

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really...

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the...

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the...

The office of president is a bastardized thing, half royalty and half democracy, that nobody...

The office of president is a bastardized thing, half royalty and half democracy, that nobody...

Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in...

Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in...