Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

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

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

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.

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...

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...

Remember where you came from.

Remember where you came from.

If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

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.

Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

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...

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,...

Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and...

Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and...

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.

When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision...

When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision...

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...

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

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

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

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.

The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from...

The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from...

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the...

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the...

The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking...

The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking...