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" It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task. "
Donald Rumsfeld
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" The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country. "
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" Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin's still learning. "
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" Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive. "
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" If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right. "
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" There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know. "
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" If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. "
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" Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying to manage the First Family. They are likely to do fine without your help. "
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" 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. "
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" Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it. "
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" Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life. "
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" 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. "
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" Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. "
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" Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, 'Well, where's the smoking gun?' Well, we don't want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction. "
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" Preserve the President's options. He may need them. "
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" Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes. "
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" Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist. "
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" Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost. "
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" Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" Remember where you came from. "
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" Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary. "
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" You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. "
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" Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men. "
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" Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" If you develop rules, never have more than ten. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" I don't do quagmires. "
Donald Rumsfeld