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. Donald Rumsfeld on best
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 on best
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. Donald Rumsfeld on business
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war. Donald Rumsfeld on death
Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position. Donald Rumsfeld on family
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. Donald Rumsfeld on family
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 on government
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. Donald Rumsfeld on government
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 on leadership
Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. Donald Rumsfeld on leadership
Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective. Donald Rumsfeld on leadership
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. Donald Rumsfeld on learning
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. Donald Rumsfeld on money
Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective. Donald Rumsfeld on money
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. Donald Rumsfeld on politics
Politics is human beings it's addition rather than subtraction. Donald Rumsfeld on politics
In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it. Donald Rumsfeld on politics
Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.' Donald Rumsfeld on success
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. Donald Rumsfeld on 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. Donald Rumsfeld on truth