Know Quote by Donald Rumsfeld
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Press briefing, Department of Defense, 2002
We categorize knowledge into what we know, what we know we don’t know, and what we don’t know we don’t know, highlighting uncertainty in decision‑making.
In simple terms: Understanding different levels of knowledge and uncertainty.
Key Takeaway
Identify and address unknowns in planning.
Themes
strategy
uncertainty
decision making
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
strategic
informative
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- military strategy
- business risk management
Key Concepts
epistemology
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- What unknown unknowns affect your projects?
- How do you prepare for unforeseen risks?
A Different Perspective
Unknown unknowns can never be fully anticipated.
