I want to remove myself from the countless stories of controversy, of feuds, of divisions and all the other stories that have surrounded me. I want to lead a more normal life.
- The former Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson
Now you've notched up the historic achievement of being forced to sack the same minister for the same offence twice in 25 months, do you recognise that your career-long dependency on Mr Mandelson has been a monumental error of judgment?
- The Conservative leader, Mr William Hague, to Mr Tony Blair
I don't suppose I ever expected you to behave graciously at all over his resignation.
- Mr Blair in response to Mr Hague
I am modest enough to know how much I do not know and the first part of my task and my job is to listen and to learn.
- The new Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid
We are the guardians of the euro. We must be serious and severe. You even have to be severe with your best pupil.
- EU Commission President Mr Romano Prodi after it was reported the Commission was to censure Ireland because the Budget was inflationary
Boxing in essence is not a sport. It creates several physical troubles - like teeth problems - and leads to madness. It should be globally banned.
- Afghanistan's Taliban Minister for Sport, Mawlawi Qalamuddin
Now Clinton is gone: Hallelujah! He was not the worst president the United States ever had: the saintly Jimmy Carter was much less accomplished; but Bill Clinton was, beyond question, the biggest creep.
- William (Lord) Rees-Mogg in the London Times
I am devastated and would like to express from the people of Fermanagh-South Tyrone my sincere sympathy to the family.
- The North's Environment Minister, Mr Sam Foster, on the death of the rally driver Bertie Fisher and two of his children in a helicopter crash
I am the son of my parents and I'm proud of them and I will always hope that they might be able to be proud of me.
- Ireland's newly appointed cardinal, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell
It was an extraordinary decision not to make Archbishop Sean Brady a cardinal.
- Father Oliver Rafferty SJ, professor of ecclesiastical history at St Patrick's College Maynooth
Kabila was a great patriot. He wasn't afraid of Western aggressors, who want to steal our diamonds and our wealth. He was one of us.
- A student at the funeral of assassinated Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent Kabila
When you're in love you lose your reason. Marriages would work much better if you didn't love one another.
- Four-times married comedian Jim Davidson