There is no such thing any more as domestic policymaking. Domestic is what's inside the currency area. Greece can no longer decide all by itself the issue of whether it should hold a referendum or not. – German chancellor Angela Merkel on policymaking in the euro zone
Just as the founding fathers had a vision of Europe after two devastating World Wars, we must also now act with resilience and with vision towards a Europe that is strong but open. Now is Germany's time to show that it is fighting the cause of a strong, integrated and competitive Europe. – European Commission president José Manuel Barroso urges Germany to take its responsibilities seriously
And I will tell you, it's three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone: Commerce, Education and the – what's the third one there – let's see . . . I would do away with the Education, Commerce and – let's see – I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops. – Texas governor Rick Perry struggles during a Republican presidential debate to remember which government departments he would abolish as president
When I came round I immediately felt different. I wasn't interested in women any more. I had never been attracted to a man before – I'd never even had any gay friends. But I didn't care about who I was before, I had to be true to my feelings. Suddenly I hated everything about my old life. I didn't get on with my friends, I hated sport and found my job boring. I started to take more pride in my appearance, bleached my hair and started working out. I went from a 19-stone skinhead to an 11-stone preened man. – Former rugby player Chris Birch (26) on how his life changed after he had a stroke