I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

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,...

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.

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...

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

The way to do well is to do well.

The way to do well is to do well.

I don't do quagmires.

I don't do quagmires.

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...

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...

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and...

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and...

If a person with a rural accent says 'I don't know much about politics,' zip...

If a person with a rural accent says 'I don't know much about politics,' zip...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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

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

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible

Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible

The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is the inefficiency

The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is the inefficiency

Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases,...

Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases,...

Answer them [critics] with silence and indifference. It works better, I assure you, than anger...

Answer them [critics] with silence and indifference. It works better, I assure you, than anger...