Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Business Quotes, Family Quotes, Managers Quotes, Presidency Quotes

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...

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...

Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the...

Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the...

One of your tasks is to separate the personal from the substantive. The two can...

One of your tasks is to separate the personal from the substantive. The two can...

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

I don't do quagmires.

I don't do quagmires.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

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...

Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page...

Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page...

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last....

Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last....

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...

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel...

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel...

Sure, I have friends, plenty of friends, and they all come around wantin' to borrow...

Sure, I have friends, plenty of friends, and they all come around wantin' to borrow...