It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task.

Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist.

Don't say 'the White House wants.' Buildings can't want.

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.

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.

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

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views.

Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented.

One of your tasks is to separate the 'personal' from the 'substantive.' The two can become confused, especially if someone rubs the President wrong.

Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented.

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.

Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary.

Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of The Washington Post.

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

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas.

Elegance is always in style for men. There are all different kinds of elegance. It can be silk, it can be a T-shirt.

It's no good being too easily swayed by people's opinions. You have to believe in yourself.

Fashion is a weapon that you can use when you need it.

Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.

In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look - which is a good thing, I think. But the Medusa is a unique symbol - something strong. It's about going all the way.

Fashion is all about happiness. It's fun. It's important. But it's not medicine.

I think glamour all the time. I wake up in the morning and I'm already thinking glamour.

In fashion, only sexy won't go out of fashion.

Let's just say beauty inspires me. But I like all beauty - I think it really comes from the inside out.

You can't pretend that everybody likes Versace. It would be boring. It's better to create a reaction than to create no reaction. That's dangerous.

The suit does not represent the businessman anymore. Nor does the loud shirt represent the rock star. The same man can now wear both.

Powerful women intimidate men. If she's a really well-known woman, she has a career, she's famous - in that case, men are really afraid.

If I could dress anyone, I'd like to dress the Queen - she can handle anything. I'd put her in black - she never wears black - and add a little leather, maybe. A little rock n' roll.

For me the safety pin is about rebellion, and I'm punk in the soul.

A business woman needs a successful mix of design and practicality.

My style is not that big. I wear heels, tight pants, and I wear diamonds.

In Italian there is an expression: We don't sleep on the fame.

I always wear high heels - I simply feel naked without them.

You can have small moments of happiness in life. You certainly can't expect years and years of it.

Scent is very important. Strong fragrances suit some men, while citrus types suit others. I like my men to smell fresh and woody, but also like a man.

On a hanger, no dress is sexy. It's just fabric on a hanger.

To be Catholic puts a lot of fear in you. It's a great religion, but also one that can limit your experience. You fear experience because everything is a sin.

I think men know to seduce women though words and conversation and nice gestures. That's much sexier than when a man uses muscle.

I think my own look makes people think I'm tough, but when they get to know me I'm very different.

Many young people don't know what Versace represent. I want to show what makes Versace an iconic brand.

I've learned how to appreciate what I have. And it's a lot. I'm very lucky.

In my life I had no other choice than to become a strong person.

Plus-sized women shouldn't think of themselves as a size. They should think of themselves as women with rich goals in life. Size doesn't mean, really, anything. You can carry your size with pride and dress in a way that you like.

I'm a feminist. I want to fight, but I don't see many people with this desire to fight for something. Women don't help each other, especially in fashion.

I like perfume and flowers.

I don't like balance. Balance is not a word you can use in Versace fashion.

I have worked with wool all my life as a designer. There's so much more to it than knitwear - it's an amazingly versatile material and can be used in so many different ways from chic to rustic.