--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They may have had time to destroy them…" description: "\"They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.\" — Donald Rumsfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png" --- # They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know… ![“They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.” quote by Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png) > “They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.” [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. Uncertainty about missing information and inability to answer a question fully **In simple terms:** We may lack answers about destroyed items Key Takeaway Acknowledge unknowns and seek clarification Themes uncertainty information accountability Mood cautious reflective Type political strategic When to use this quote - military intelligence - policy analysis - historical research Key Concepts risk assessment decision making Questions to Reflect On - What evidence could resolve the uncertainty? - How does admitting ignorance affect credibility? A Different Perspective Limits of knowledge can hinder decisive action ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-destruction/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [Wmds in iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wmds-in-iraq/) ## Related quotes > [There are people who in large measure have information that we need . . . so that we can track down the weapons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/there-are-people-who-in-large-measure-have-information-that-we-need/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-know-where-they-are-iraq-s-weapons-of-mass-destruction-they-re-in/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [We know where they are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-know-where-they-are-they-are-in-the-area-around-tikrit-and-baghdad/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/simply-stated-there-is-no-doubt-that-saddam-hussein-now-has-weapons/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [We never believed that we'd just tumble over weapons of mass destruction in that country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-never-believed-that-we-d-just-tumble-over-weapons-of-mass/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Obviously the administration intends to publicize all the weapons of mass destruction U.S. forces find - and there will be plenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/obviously-the-administration-intends-to-publicize-all-the-weapons-of/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [We are learning more as we interrogate or have discussions with Iraqi scientists and people within the Iraqi structure, that perhaps he destroyed some,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-are-learning-more-as-we-interrogate-or-have-discussions-with-iraqi/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [U.S. officials never expected that 'we were going to open garages and find' weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/u-s-officials-never-expected-that-we-were-going-to-open-garages-and/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/intelligence-gathered-by-this-and-other-governments-leaves-no-doubt/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/in-the-four-years-since-the-inspectors-left-intelligence-reports-show/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If he declares he has none, then we will know that Saddam Hussein is once again misleading the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/if-he-declares-he-has-none-then-we-will-know-that-saddam-hussein-is/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [If left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-left-unchecked-saddam-hussein-will-continue-to-increase-his/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## 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 Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Rumsfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-and-i-don-t-know-the-answer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-and-i-don-t-know-the-answer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/donald-rumsfeld-1507_answer_they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-a_2054545.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.” — Donald Rumsfeld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Donald Rumsfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They may have had time to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-and-i-don-t-know-the-answer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/they-may-have-had-time-to-destroy-them-and-i-don-t-know-the-answer/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```