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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 World Wells Decision Weapons Of Mass Destruction Want Destruction Mass Destruction Trying Helping Looks

Famous Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

“In unanimity there may well be either cowardice or uncritical thinking.”

Thinking Wells May Cowardice Critical Thinking Unanimity

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I think we ought to have a new rule: You can ask two questions, and then we can pick the one we want to answer.”

Thinking Want Two Asks Answers Ought Picks

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

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

“What is needed [to combat terrorism], in my view, is resolve, not retreat; courage, not concession. Rather than thinking in terms of an exit strategy, focus on a strategy for success.”

Thinking Term Views Focus Needed Strategy Terrorism Resolve Combat Retreat Exit Concessions

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I think it's very useful for you folks (reporters) to try your damndest to be precise. And don't repeat things that are inaccurate if you can possibly avoid it. And when you see things that are inaccurate, knock them down -- because there's a bucket of it floating around.”

Ifs Thinking Trying Folks Repeats Reporters Precise Floating Buckets

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.”

Thinking Planning Operations Time Management Day To Day Planning Ahead Thinking Ahead

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

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

“Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.”

Thinking Men World Said Indispensable Cemetery Infallible Full Of Yourself

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

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

“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.”

Thinking Helping President Leadership Shapes Critical Command Contact Consent

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

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

“You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.”

Thinking Europe France Germany Nato Center Of Gravity

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“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

“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

“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.”

“I don't know anybody that I can think of who has contended that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons.”

Thinking Knows I Can Stupid Weapons Iraq Nuclear Nuclear Weapons

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I don't think we'll discover anything, myself. I think what will happen is we'll discover people who will tell us where to go find it. It is not like a treasure hunt where you just runaround looking everywhere hoping you find something. I just don't think that's going to happen. The inspectors didn't find anything, and I doubt that we will. What we will do is find the people who will tell us.”

People Thinking Happens Doubt Iraq Treasure Hunts Inspectors Treasure Hunt

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

About the Author

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

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Ifs People President Iraq Knows Country War Thinking May Weapons World Wells Decision Weapons Of Mass Destruction Want Destruction Mass Destruction Trying Helping Looks

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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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