It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Mistakes 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...

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...

Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a...

Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a...

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

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

Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll...

Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll...

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really...

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really...

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

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

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...

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...

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....

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead...

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead...

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.

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....

Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him...

Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him...

I don't do quagmires.

I don't do quagmires.

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...

Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant.

Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant.

Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.

Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.

He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the...

He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the...

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself