Donald Rumsfeld quotes - page 2

We're so conditioned as a people to think that a military campaign has to be cruise missiles and television images of airplanes dropping bombs, and that's just false. This is a totally different war. We need a new vocabulary. We need to get rid of old think and start thinking about this thing the way it really is. (Donald Rumsfeld)
I don't know what the facts are but somebody's certainly going to sit down with him and find out what he knows that they may not know, and make sure he knows what they know that he may not know, and that's a good thing. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Those who follow orders to commit such crimes will be found and they will be punished. War crimes will be prosecuted. And it will be no excuse to say, 'I was just following orders.' Any official involved in such crimes will forfeit hope of amnesty or leniency with respect to past action. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Learn to say "I don't know." If used when appropriate, it will be often. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
The way to do well is to do well. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be responsible. Give them authority and hold them accountable. Trying to do too much yourself creates a bottleneck. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive. (Donald Rumsfeld)
The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it can better be handled privately, by voluntary organizations, or by local or state governments. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Remember where you came from. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
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. (Donald Rumsfeld)
Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
If in doubt, move decisions up to the President. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld
Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary. View quote
Donald Rumsfeld