--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have a deputy and develop a successor…" description: "\"Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world - ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/donald-rumsfeld-1507_agree_have-a-deputy-and-develop-a-successor-do_2690363.jpg" --- # Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed… ![“Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world - family, friends, neighbors, people out of government, and people who may not agree with you.” quote by Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/donald-rumsfeld-1507_agree_have-a-deputy-and-develop-a-successor-do_2690363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/donald-rumsfeld-1507_agree_have-a-deputy-and-develop-a-successor-do_2690363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/donald-rumsfeld-1507_agree_have-a-deputy-and-develop-a-successor-do_2690363.jpg) > “Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world - family, friends, neighbors, people out of government, and people who may not agree with you.” [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing professional responsibilities with personal life requires delegating, maintaining external ties, and staying open to dissenting views. **In simple terms:** Delegate, stay connected, and welcome dissent. Key Takeaway Build support networks beyond work. Themes leadership balance delegation external relationships Mood thoughtful serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career - family - civic engagement Key Concepts political strategy personal wellbeing Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify trustworthy external influences? - What safeguards prevent loss of personal balance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on external ties may dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Deputy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deputy/) [Family friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-friends/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When I was deputy chairman I could travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh without leaving Tory land. In a two-week period I covered every constituency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/when-i-was-deputy-chairman-i-could-travel-from-glasgow-to-edinburgh/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [By the time the Deputy Minister presents a matter for decision to cabinet, he or she tends to present three options: ' the unacceptable',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnston/by-the-time-the-deputy-minister-presents-a-matter-for-decision-to/) Don Johnston > [Talk to the assistant press secretary, the deputy to key administration officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scully/talk-to-the-assistant-press-secretary-the-deputy-to-key/) Steve Scully > [This was an away-day for the deputy prime minister's staff, who've had a change of responsibilities \[on John Prescott's scandalous playing habits... on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-clark/this-was-an-away-day-for-the-deputy-prime-minister-s-staff-who-ve-had/) Paul Clark > [The election of a deputy to the Legislature offers a noble and majestic spectacle comparable only to the delivery of a child. It involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-election-of-a-deputy-to-the-legislature-offers-a-noble-and/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I've worked as someone's deputy, and now it's time for me to run something. It's time for me to run my own shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/i-ve-worked-as-someone-s-deputy-and-now-it-s-time-for-me-to-run/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [ \[Rex\] Tillerson himself has no deputy, for example. Latest plans from the \[Donald Trump's\] administration call for a 37 percent cut to the agency's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/rex-tillerson-himself-has-no-deputy-for-example-latest-plans-from-the/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I'm nobody's deputy. I am who I am. I'm my own person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lee/i-m-nobody-s-deputy-i-am-who-i-am-i-m-my-own-person/) [Mike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lee/) > [I was involved as deputy mayor in New York City on 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-involved-as-deputy-mayor-in-new-york-city-on-9-11/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have picked the very, very best deputy that I could. David Parker is a fantastic guy. He's a person who I trust absolutely.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cunliffe/i-have-picked-the-very-very-best-deputy-that-i-could-david-parker-is/) [David Cunliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cunliffe/) > [a mother is God's deputy on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahel-varnhagen/a-mother-is-god-s-deputy-on-earth/) [Rahel Varnhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahel-varnhagen/) > [During the Koizumi administration, I served as the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary as well as the Chief Cabinet Secretary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/during-the-koizumi-administration-i-served-as-the-deputy-chief/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [He's not going to shoot us in the back by accident, is he?" Deputy Coltrain asked. I smiled, not sweetly. "He promised not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-s-not-going-to-shoot-us-in-the-back-by-accident-is-he-deputy/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Conscience is God's deputy in the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/conscience-is-god-s-deputy-in-the-soul/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [I like the people that I work with, generally. With four exceptions. And I did not become a Lackawanna County volunteer sheriffs deputy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schrute/i-like-the-people-that-i-work-with-generally-with-four-exceptions-and/) [Dwight Schrute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schrute/) ## More by Donald Rumsfeld > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I don't think we'll discover anything, myself. I think what will happen is we'll discover people who will tell us where to go find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-think-we-ll-discover-anything-myself-i-think-what-will-happen/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/members-of-the-u-s-house-and-the-u-s-senate-are-not-there-by-accident/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-federal-government-should-be-the-last-resort-not-the-first-ask-if/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-price-of-being-close-to-the-president-is-delivering-bad-news-you/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/don-t-speak-ill-of-your-predecessors-or-successors-you-didn-t-walk-in/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [If you can't solve a problem, make it bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/if-you-can-t-solve-a-problem-make-it-bigger/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/enjoy-your-time-in-public-service-it-may-well-be-one-of-the-most/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [There will be good moments, and there will be less good moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/there-will-be-good-moments-and-there-will-be-less-good-moments/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [From where you sit, the White House may look as untidy as the inside of a stomach. As is said of the legislative process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/from-where-you-sit-the-white-house-may-look-as-untidy-as-the-inside/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/you-will-launch-many-projects-but-have-time-to-finish-only-a-few-so/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What is the value of having millions of people in Iraq not having a repressive regime? What is the value of having the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/what-is-the-value-of-having-millions-of-people-in-iraq-not-having-a/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/don-t-be-a-bottleneck-if-a-matter-is-not-a-decision-for-the-president/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [When you're skiing, if you're not falling you're not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/when-you-re-skiing-if-you-re-not-falling-you-re-not-trying/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) [Explore all 234 Donald Rumsfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. 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