There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.

Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.

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

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, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

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

Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.'

If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence.

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.

In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.

Remember where you came from.

Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems.

Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers.

Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.

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.

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.

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

Don't divide the world into 'them' and 'us.' Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as facts. They have their jobs and you have yours.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

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

Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer.

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.

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive.

I don't do quagmires.

Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive.

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

I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that.

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost.

Prune - prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.

Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.

In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.

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.

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.

Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him to be the one to counsel caution.

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With the press there is no 'off the record.'

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

Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.

The way to do well is to do well.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children.