Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Advice Quotes

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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....

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...

Don't divide the world into hem and us. Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the...

Don't divide the world into hem and us. Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

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 price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him...

The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him...

In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact...

In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact...