Learn to say I don't know. If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

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

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

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

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

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...

When someone with a rural accent says, I don't know much about politics, zip up...

When someone with a rural accent says, I don't know much about politics, zip up...

Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each...

Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each...

Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.

Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.

Don't say he White House wants. Buildings can't want.

Don't say he White House wants. Buildings can't want.

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

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

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...

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...

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....

The way to do well is to do well.

The way to do well is to do well.

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

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

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

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

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...

Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders...

Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders...

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...

Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this...

Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this...