“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.”
Business
“Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.”
LeadershipAll Quotes by Donald Rumsfeld
“Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.”
Death“First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win.”
Politics“Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.”
Leadership“Politics is human beings it's addition rather than subtraction.”
Politics“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.”
Leadership“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.”
Government“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.”
Best“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.”
Women“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.”
Government“In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.”
Work“Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal.”
Money“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.”
Best“In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.”
Politics“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.”
Learning“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.”
Time“The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don't tell him the truth. Others won't do it.”
Truth“Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.”
Family“Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.”
Leadership“Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.'”
Success