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.

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

Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases, so too does bureaucracy, delay, and expense.

The worst mistake is to have the best ladder and the wrong wall.

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.

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.

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