Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

On this page you can find the TOP of Donald Rumsfeld's best quotes! We hope you will find some sayings from Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's in our collection, which will inspire you to new achievements! There are currently 223 quotes on this page collected since July 9, 1932! Share our collection of quotes with your friends on social media so that they can find something to inspire them!
  • Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.

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

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

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • Most of the 50 or so invitations you receive each week come from people inviting the President's Chief of Staff, not you. If you doubt that, ask your predecessor how many he received last week.

    People  
  • Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.

    War   Iraq  
    Remarks at town hall meeting, Kuwait, 8 Dec. 2004
  • 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.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • Most US presidents since World War II have led military actions without a declaration of war by Congress, though most, if not all, have properly consulted and sought support from Congress. That is the wise thing to do.

    War  
    Source: www.spiegel.de
  • 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.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • Within a week, or a month, Saddam could give his WMD to al-Qaeda.

    Wmd   Iraq  
  • 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 (2004). “The World According to Rummy”, Welcome Rain Publishers
  • ... 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.

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

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

    "Donald Rumsfeld, A Real Stand-Up Guy" by Richard Leiby, www.washingtonpost.com. June 24, 2004.
  • I don't do quagmires.

    Defense Department news briefing, 24 July 2003
  • 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.

    Source: www.washingtonpost.com
  • Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “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  
    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • [on Osama bin Laden] He is either alive and well or alive and not too well or not alive.

    U.S. Department of Defense News Briefing, October 7, 2002.
  • 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.

    People  
    Donald Rumsfeld, United States. Dept. of Defense. Historical Office (2001). “Public statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • Look at me! I'm sweet and lovable!

    Foreign Press Center, June 21, 2002.
  • It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2011). “Known and Unknown: A Memoir”, p.45, Penguin
  • 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.

    Country  
    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “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.

    Men   World  
    Donald Rumsfeld (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.

    Iraq  
    Hearing of the Senate's appropriations subcommittee on defense, May 14, 2003.
  • To gain support in U.S. Congress and from other nations requires clarity, an acceptable mission and an explicit outcome.

    Source: www.spiegel.de
  • 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 (2001). “Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001”
  • I am not going to give you a number for it because it's not my business to do intelligent work.

    Iraq  
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  • We hope you have found the saying you were looking for in our collection! At the moment, we have collected 223 quotes from the Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, starting from July 9, 1932! We periodically replenish our collection so that visitors of our website can always find inspirational quotes by authors from all over the world! Come back to us again!

    Donald Rumsfeld

    • Born: July 9, 1932
    • Occupation: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense