The worst mistake is to have the best ladder and the wrong wall. Donald Rumsfeld More Quotes by Donald Rumsfeld More Quotes From Donald Rumsfeld There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know. Donald Rumsfeld knownknows Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. Donald Rumsfeld rough-edgesvisionleadership If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. Donald Rumsfeld leadershipmotivationalinspirational I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think and I assume it's what I said. Donald Rumsfeld yesterdaybelievethinking The way to do well is to do well. Donald Rumsfeld wellsway Success tends to go not to the person who is error-free, because he also tends to be risk-averse. Rather it goes to the person who recognizes that life is pretty much a percentage business. It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task. Donald Rumsfeld errorsmistakesuccess Listening to both sides does not necessarily bring about a correct judgment. Donald Rumsfeld judginglisteningdoe The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize. It's to change the behavior of the people that are being terrorized. Donald Rumsfeld terrorismpurposepeople Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes. Donald Rumsfeld shoesbootsspeak Don't say 'the White House wants.' Buildings can't want. Donald Rumsfeld whitehousewant We [the USA] do have a big nation's problem. We have the problem of a nation that's got two oceans, oceans on either side. People come from all across the globe and want to live here and they want to work here and they want to invest here. And that's a good thing. And they make up this country. But as a people, we [americans] are not highly skilled in languages. We're not highly skilled in knowledge of other cultures. And that's a problem. Donald Rumsfeld other-culturesoceancountry If I look at the really important questions in [Middle East] region, I see Iran, where there is a strong desire for a freer society and where people are repressed by a small group of ayatollahs. I see Syria, where we can see a similar desire of the people to be free. These two countries fund Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations and are hurting our efforts in Afghanistan and have been extremely harmful in Iraq. Then I also see large, important countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Donald Rumsfeld stronghurtcountry 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. Donald Rumsfeld governmentorganizationresponsibility It is easier to get into something than to get out of it. Donald Rumsfeld easier In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus to his leadership. Donald Rumsfeld presidentleadershipthinking If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it. Donald Rumsfeld pleaseifstrying 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. Donald Rumsfeld decisionpresidentresponsibility 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. Donald Rumsfeld errorscountrymoving You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. Donald Rumsfeld germanyeuropethinking The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House. Donald Rumsfeld whitehousecountry
