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

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

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

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

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...

Remember where you came from.

Remember where you came from.

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

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

The way to do well is to do well.

The way to do well is to do well.

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...

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

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

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

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be...

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be...

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...

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed...

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed...

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

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

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

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.

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...

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...

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.

But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain -...

But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain -...

The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and...

The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and...

I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I...

I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I...

Many who think they are workers in politics are really merely tools.

Many who think they are workers in politics are really merely tools.

But you know, its not easy when your husband runs for president. I mean, its...

But you know, its not easy when your husband runs for president. I mean, its...