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.

Summary

This quote, attributed to former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, highlights the concept of knowledge and awareness. "Known knowns" represent things we are aware of and have information about. "Known unknowns" are things we know we lack knowledge or understanding of. However, "unknown unknowns" refer to things that exist but are completely outside our awareness or consideration. Rumsfeld's intention was to highlight the significance of acknowledging our limited knowledge and the potential risks and challenges that can arise from the unknown unknowns in decision-making processes.

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