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Donald Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense

Donald Rumsfeld is a prominent American politician who served as the United States Secretary of Defense twice. Born on July 9, 1932, Rumsfeld has extensive experience in political and military affairs, leading key national security and defense policies.

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All Ifs People President Iraq Knows Country War Thinking May Weapons

Famous Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

“When I served as US Ambassador to NATO in the 1970s, the center of gravity in Europe was France and Germany.”

Europe France Germany Gravity Ambassadors Nato Center Of Gravity

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“In 2003, at the time I made my "Old Europe" comment, the center of gravity in NATO and Europe had long since shifted to the East. With the former Warsaw Pact countries joining NATO, the alliance has a different mix today. Some people were sensitive about my comment because they thought it was a pejorative way of highlighting demographic realities. Apparently they felt it pointed a white light at a weakness in Europe - an aging population. Europe has come some distance since World War II in becoming Europe.”

“I am going to leave the future of Europe to the Europeans.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“At 78 years old, I am not surprised at much anymore. Germany has taken divergent positions before, so has France, so has England, so has the US.”

Years Taken Position England France Germany Divergent

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“After the German abstention at the UN, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle commented that Germany doesn't always have to stand on the side of its traditional allies. Berlin can look for new partners all over the world.”

World Looks Sides Partners Traditional Ministers Germany Allies Berlin Abstention Guidos

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“It is hard to put a price on some things. What is the value of having prevented nuclear weapons from getting into the hands of a dictator like Saddam Hussein - or of Gadhafi?”

Hard Hands Values Weapons Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Dictator Saddam Hussein

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“What is the value of having millions of people in Iraq not having a repressive regime? What is the value of having the Iraqi regime not shooting at UK and US aircraft almost every day? What is the value of the Iraqis having a free press? What is the value of the foreign minister of Iraq going to Paris, calling for an end of the Gadhafi regime and citing Iraq as a model, as an example, that in fact a freer political system can exist in that part of the world?”

People World Ends Facts Political Values Millions Example Calling Models Presses Iraq Shooting Ministers Paris Regimes Political Systems Aircraft Free Press Citing

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If there are people who yearn for the days when Saddam Hussein was in power, then I am not among them.”

People Ifs Saddam Hussein

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The United States isn't going to do anything that it's not capable of doing. And if we do something, we'll be capable of doing it.”

Ifs States United United States Capable

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Sausage making and policy-making shouldn't be seen close-up.”

Policy Sausage Policy Making

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“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.”

Thinking Knows Believe Said I Believe Assuming Yesterday

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The worst mistake is to have the best ladder and the wrong wall.”

Mistake Worst Wall Ladders

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I recognize the need to provide the press - and, through you, the American people - with information to the fullest extent possible. In our democracy, the work of the Pentagon press corps is important, defending our freedom and way of life is what this conflict is about, and that certainly includes freedom of the press.”

People Way Needs Important Life Is Democracy Information Conflict Presses Freedom Of The Press Pentagon

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If you are working from your inbox, you are working on other people’s priorities.”

People Ifs Priorities Inbox

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“One thing appears reasonably certain, and that's that those who make allegations of a culture of deception, of intimidation or cover-up need to be extremely careful about such accusations.”

Needs Certain Culture One Thing Careful Deception Intimidation Accusation Cover Ups Allegations

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There are things that we know, and there are things that we don't know. Then there are the things that we don't even know that we don't know. Those are the things that are the hardest.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I tend over the years to have developed a certain hesitancy about believing that headlines tell the whole story.”

Years Believe Whole Stories Certain Headlines

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Don't divide the world into "them" and "us."”

World Divides Resentment Infatuation Rivals Infatuated

Book:The World According to Rummy

Source: The World According to Rummy

“The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House.”

Country House Hours White Guidance White House Persist Best House

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Certainty without power can be interesting, even amusing. Certainty with power can be dangerous.”

Interesting Dangerous Certainty Amusing

Book:Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Source: Known and Unknown: A Memoir

“If you can't solve a problem, make it bigger.”

Ifs Problem Bigger Solve

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Being Vice President is difficult. Don't make it tougher.”

Difficult President Vices Vice President

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of others. Be sure the staff is working on what you move to them from the President, or the President will be reacting, not leading.”

Ifs Moving President Boxes Priorities Staff Reacting

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Don't accept the post or stay unless you have an understanding with the President that you're free to tell him what you think "with the bark off" and you have the courage to do it.”

Thinking Understanding President Accepting Posts Bark

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Find ways to decentralize. Move decision making authority down and out. Encourage a more entrepreneurial approach.”

Way Moving Decision Authority Approach Down And Decision Making Entrepreneurial

Book:Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Source: Known and Unknown: A Memoir

“From where you sit, the White House may look as untidy as the inside of a stomach. As is said of the legislative process, sausage-making and policy-making shouldn't be seen close-up. Don't let that panic you. Things may be going better than they look from the inside.”

Looks May Said House Process White Policy White House Stomach Panic Sausage Policy Making Legislative Process

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world - family, friends, neighbors, people out of government, and people who may not agree with you.”

People World May Government Jobs Lines Risk Balance Losing Agree Neighbor Consumed Outside World Successors Family Friends Deputies

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Inspectors do not have the duty or the ability to uncover terrible weapons hidden in a vast country. The responsibility of inspectors is simply to confirm evidence of voluntary and total disarmament. Saddam Hussein has the responsibility to provide that evidence, as directed, and in full”

Country Ability Responsibility Duty Terrible Weapons Evidence Saddam Hussein Disarmament Inspectors

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“It is very difficult to spend "federal (the taxpayers') dollars" so that the intended result is achieved.”

Difficult Results Dollars Taxpayers

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the President's.”

Knows President Assuming Administration Tone Staff Tempo

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.”

Moving Decision Responsibility Authority Agency Accountability Cabinets Authority And Responsibility

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Napoleon was asked, "Who do you consider to be the greatest generals?" He responded saying, "The victors.”

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases, so too does bureaucracy, delay, and expense.”

Doe Self Degrees Solutions Increase Strive Expenses Bureaucracy Delay Discretion Executing

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate impressions about you or the President, to his detriment. After all, you may not be as bad as they're saying.”

Ifs May President Walks Office Invisible Impression Mystique

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Watch the growth of middle level management. Don't automatically fill vacant jobs. Leave some positions unfilled for 6-8 months to see what happens. You will find you won't need to fill some of them.”

Needs Happens Jobs Growth Levels Watches Middle Position Months Management Vacant

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“When someone with a rural accent says, "I don't know much about politics," zip up your pockets.”

Knows Pockets Accents Zips

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“If you look ahead 10 years, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the people of Russia had become fans of missile defence.”

People Ifs Years Looks Bits Fans Russia Defence Missiles

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“It is the photographs that gives one the vivid realization of what actually took place. (On photographs from Abu Ghraib prison.)”

Giving Prison Photograph Realization Vivid Abu Ghraib

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“When it comes to reconstruction, before we turn to the American taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government and the international community.”

Firsts Government Turns Community Resources International Taxpayers Reconstruction International Community

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The United States, as all you know, did not come to Iraq for oil, not to occupy. We came here only to help.”

Knows States Helping United United States Iraq Oil

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We have an orientation that tends to make us think that everything is our responsibility and that we should be doing this. It is the Iraqis' country, 28 million of them. They are perfectly capable of running that country.”

Thinking Should Country Running Responsibility Millions Capable Orientation

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There are a lot of things that are said by people in the military, or civilian life, or in the Congress, or in the Executive Branch, that are their views. And that's the way we live. We're a free people. And that's the wonderful thing about our country.”

People Way Said Country Views Wonderful Military Congress Our Country Branches Executives Wonderful Things Civilians Executive Branch

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“General Boykin has requested that an inspector general review this matter. And I have indicated that if that's his request, I think it's appropriate.”

Ifs Thinking Matter Appropriate Reviews Request Inspectors

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There's no debate in the world as to whether people have weapons of mass destruction... We all know that. A trained ape knows that.”

People World Destruction Debate Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Our goal is to defend the American people, and to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and to liberate the Iraqi people.”

People Goal Destruction Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Author: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.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.”

Ifs Trying Please

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact.”

People War Facts Lying Peace Get Away Anti War Antiwar People Who Lie

Author: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.”

People Thinking Giving Trying Too Much Plans Authority Projects Responsible Good People Being Responsible Bottlenecks

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.”

Wells May Enjoy Challenges Interesting Most Interesting Public Service Time Of Your Life Interesting Times Challenging Times

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

About the Author

Born: July 9, 1932
Known for: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Quotes: 224

Related Topics

Ifs People President Iraq Knows Country War Thinking May Weapons

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001Related source material

Known and Unknown: A MemoirRelated source material

The World According to RummyRelated source material

Known and UnknownRelated source material

Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and LifeRelated source material

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