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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

“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.”

Looks Able President Gone Missing Observation Advisors

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

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

“Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what it was and you will know something important about them, about our country and about the American people.”

People Knows Important Country Reason House Members Accidents Our Country Senate

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

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

“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.”

People Want Trying Wells Happens Weapons Mass Gun Tasks Destruction Smoking Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Dots

Author: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.”

Ifs Should Firsts States Government Lasts Asks Responsibility Program Organization Locals Federal Government Resorts State Government

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

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

“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.”

Trying Firsts Helping President Fine Manage Plenty

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

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

“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.”

People Littles Reason Government President Position Ego Entering Moderates New Position

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

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

“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.”

Stills Issues Agree Instance Administration Agreement Secretary

Book:The World According to Rummy

Source: The World According to Rummy

“See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented.”

Ifs May Made President Decision Poor Cutting Information Flow Staff Cabinets Information Flow

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

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

“Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented.”

Needs Ideas Helping Decision Support Perspective Tests Hearing Range Marketplace Consultation

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

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

“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.”

Country Exercise Tasks Defense Chiefs Department Secretary Civilians Commanders Commander In Chief Admiral

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.”

Knows Trying Helping Mistake Originals Corners Administration Rope Predecessors

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

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

“When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision and also a precedent. Pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later.”

Trying Helping President Decision Answers Issues Policy Raises Arise Range Guidance Evoke Precedent

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

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

“Keep your sense of humor. As General Joe Stillwell said, 'The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind'.”

Said Humor Behinds Higher Climbs Sense Of Humor Monkeys Well Said

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

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

“I would not say that the future is necessarily less predictable than the past. I think the past was not predictable when it started.”

Thinking Past Stupid Republican Conservative Silly Predictable Dumb Liberal Stupid Republican Stupid Conservative

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We're not running out of [fixed] targets. Afghanistan is.”

Running Military Fixed Target Afghanistan

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Listening to both sides does not necessarily bring about a correct judgment.”

Doe Sides Judging Listening Judgment Both Sides

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“No. That's someone else's business. Quagmire is - I don't do quagmires.”

War Iraq War Quagmire

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We know where they are [Iraq's weapons of mass destruction]. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.”

Knows War Weapons Mass Areas Destruction West South Iraq East Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Iraq War Baghdad Wmd Wmds In Iraq Biological Weapons

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“... something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.”

War Country Would Be Cost Burden Billions Other Countries Iraq War

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I'm glad you asked. It has nothing to do with oil, literally nothing to do with oil.”

War Oil Glad Iraq War

Book:The World According to Rummy

Source: The World According to Rummy

“Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.”

War Lasts Five Months Iraq Iraq War

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Control your own time. Don't let it be done for you. If you are working off the in-box that is fed you, you are probably working on the priority of others.”

Ifs Done Time Boxes Priorities Feds

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We do know of certain knowledge that he [Osama Bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead.”

Knows Country Certain Afghanistan Other Countries Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden Certain Knowledge

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.”

Want War Might Wish Army Iraq Iraq War

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There's another way to phrase that and that is that the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. It is basically saying the same thing in a different way. Simply because you do not have evidence that something does exist does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist.”

Way Mean Doe Different Evidence Absence Different Ways Phrases Another Way

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“It is unknowable how long that conflict [the war in Iraq] will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.”

Long War Lasts Doubt Week Months Conflict Six Iraq Six Months

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly.”

Ifs Knows Answers

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Oh, Lord. I didn't mean to say anything quotable.”

Mean Lord Say Anything

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

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

“Those who made the decisions with imperfect knowledge will be judged in hindsight by those with considerably more information at their disposal and time for reflection.”

Made Decision Information Reflection Judged Imperfect Hindsight

Book:Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Source: Known and Unknown: A Memoir

“When starting at the bottom, be willing to learn from those at the top.”

Willing Bottom Starting Willing To Learn

Book:Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life

Source: Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life

“You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east. And there are a lot of new members. And if you just take the list of all the members of NATO and all of those who have been invited in recently -- what is it? Twenty-six, something like that? -- you're right. Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem.”

Ifs Thinking Looks Has Beens Problem Today Members Six Europe Twenties East Lists France Germany Gravity Invited Shifting Nato Center Of Gravity

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We do know that the Iraqi regime has chemical and biological weapons. His regime has amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons - including VX, sarin, cyclosarin and mustard gas. His regime has amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of biological weapons—including anthrax and botulism toxin, and possibly smallpox.”

Knows Weapons Including Gas Chemicals Regimes Mustard Chemical Weapons Toxins Smallpox Biological Weapons Clandestine Anthrax Mustard Gas

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.”

Knows Believe Said Weapons Don't Believe Iraq Nuclear Administration Nuclear Weapons Invasion

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I think all of us have a sense if we imagine the kind of world we would face if the people who bombed the mess hall in Mosul, or the people who did the bombing in Spain, or the people who attacked the United States in New York, shot down the plane over Pennsylvania and attacked the Pentagon, the people who cut off peoples' heads on television to intimidate, to frighten indeed the word 'terrorized' is just that. Its purpose is to terrorize, to alter behavior, to make people be something other than that which they want to be.”

“Never hire anyone you can’t fire.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.”

Doubt Weapons Mass Destruction Iraq No Doubt Saddam Hussein Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Wmd Wmds In Iraq Biological Weapons

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The absence of evidence is not necessarily the evidence of absence”

Evidence Absence

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If you develop rules, never have more than ten.”

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

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

“I stand for 8-10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to four hours?”

Hours Four Standing

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.”

Book:Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Source: Known and Unknown: A Memoir

“The worst thing you can do is allow a coalition to determine what your mission is.”

Can Do Worst Determine Missions Worst Things Coalitions

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We do have a saying in America: if you're in a hole, stop digging ..... erm, I'm not sure I should have said that.”

Ifs Should Said America Should Have Holes Not Sure Digging

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“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.”

Persons Success Life Is Mistake Risk Tasks Errors Critical Making Mistakes Principal Percentages Correcting

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We'll have to deal with the networks. One of the ways to do that is to drain the swamp they live in. And that means dealing not only with the terrorists, but those who harbor terrorists. This will take a long, sustained effort. It will require the support of the American people as well as our friends and allies around the world.”

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

“Is it likely that an aircraft carrier or a cruise missile is going to find a person?”

Persons Aviation September Missiles September 11 Cruise Aircraft Carrier Air Power Airpower Aircraft Carriers

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

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

“There is no question but that when one is engaged militarily that there are going to be unintended loss of life.”

War Loss Engaged

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“You might be a cunning linguist, but I am a master debater.”

Might Funny Masters Cunning Linguists

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.”

Risk Politician Underestimated Overexposure

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

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

“The implication that there was something wrong with the war plan is amusing.”

War Plans Stupid Republican Implications Amusing War Plans

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Whatever new threats and challenges may emerge, our nation will be able to face them squarely, deal with them, and yet allow our people to continue to live free and unafraid. The decisions you make, the courage and creativity you bring to your responsibilities, will determine America's future. Liberty and our way of life are fragile gifts - their care is in your hands. We thank you for stepping forward to shoulder that immense responsibility. Your country is grateful, and proud of each of you.”

About the Author

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

Related Topics

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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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