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.

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

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.

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

Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.

We know where they are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.

We know where they are [Iraq's weapons of mass destruction]. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.

We do know of certain knowledge that he [Osama Bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead.

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.

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.

The best way to waste your life, is by taking notes. The easiest way to avoid living is to just watch. Look for the details. Report. Don't participate.

Success without a successor is a failure

The answer must be, I think, that the beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.

Nobody who gets enough food and clothing in a world where most are hungry and cold has any business to talk about 'misery.'

It's embarrassing to go through any rebellious stage in front of people that you love and respect, and yet I'm glad I did.

Do not be alarmed by simplification, complexity is often a device for claiming sophistication, or for evading simple truths.

There is no quality so contrary to any nature which one cannot affect, and put on upon occasion, in order to serve an interest.

The main reason nerds are unpopular is that they have other things to think about.

Dinosaurs are the best way to teach kids, and adults, the immensity of geologic time.

Beating John Landy was my defining race.