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.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Self-esteem Quotes, Self-love Quotes

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate...

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate...

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.

Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

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

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

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...

Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.

Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.

Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to...

Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to...

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...

Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason....

Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason....

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

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

The way to do well is to do well.

The way to do well is to do well.

Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of...

Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of...

Learn to say I don't know. If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Learn to say I don't know. If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

Don't begin to think you're the President. You're not. The Constitution provides for only one.

Don't begin to think you're the President. You're not. The Constitution provides for only one.

Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.

Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him...

The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him...