Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

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,...

Prune - prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.

Prune - prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.

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.

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known...

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known...

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...

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 Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential...

The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential...

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...

Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting...

Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting...

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.

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When...

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When...

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...

Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps...

Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps...

It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.

It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.

If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it...

If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it...

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...

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 want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to...

If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to...

Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises?...

Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises?...

One reason we have children I think is to learn that parts of ourselves we...

One reason we have children I think is to learn that parts of ourselves we...

The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away...

The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away...

Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood,...

Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood,...