Donald Rumsfeld

Politics is human beings; it’s addition rather than subtraction.

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.

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.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you’re still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.

Without Revolutionary theory, there can be no Revolutionary Movement.

We could only solve our problems by cooperating with other countries. It would have been paradoxical not to cooperate. And therefore we needed to put an end to the Iron Curtain, to change the nature of international relations, to rid them of ideological confrontation, and particularly to end the arms race.

So the idea that Europe should exploit Africa for Europe’s reconstruction passed without comment. This is just deeply imbedded in the consciousness of what’s sometimes called white supremacy which is an extraordinary doctrine.

We are not abandoning our convictions, our philosophy or traditions, nor do we urge anyone to abandon theirs.

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

The economy depends about as much on economists as the weather does on weather forecasters.

One goal of a well-crafted propaganda system is to dull the mental faculties, reducing its targets to a level at which they will respond with appropriate enthusiasm to slogans carrying a patriotic message.

It is only when all black groups, join hands and speak with one voice that we shall be a bargaining force which will decide its own destiny.

I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.

In the modern world, those who are weak will get unambiguous advice from foreign visitors which way to go and what policy course to pursue.

There will come a day, I promise you, when the thought of your son, or daughter, or your wife or your husband, brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will happen. My prayer for you is that day will come sooner than later.

Anarchists try to identify power structures. They urge those exercising power to justify themselves. This justification does not succeed most of the time.

The kind of work that should be the main part of life is the kind of work you would want to do if you weren’t being paid for it. It’s work that comes out of your own internal needs, interests and concerns.

There are all sorts of filtering devices to get rid of people who are a pain in the neck and think independently. Those of you who have been through college know that the educational system is very highly geared to rewarding conformity and obedience.

I’ve seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are. It reveals who you are.