You can do everything for other countries but you can't do nothing for your own people. You can go overseas with the military but you can't get them down here - Daniel Edwards, a resident of New Orleans, directing a comment to President George W. Bush
So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them - Former first lady Barbara Bush, commenting on meeting hurricane evacuees in the Houston Astrodome
The toxic soup is touching every square inch of the flooded areas. The environmental clean-up is one that we have not typically faced with other disasters - Paul Farmer, director of the American Planning Association, on saving New Orleans
I hoped it would be a temporary thing, and as they got down to work they would have no time for quarrels. But with each day I saw the conflict get worse - President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine on why he sacked his entire government after allegations of corruption led to high-level resignations
Saddam deserves a death sentence 20 times a day because he tried to assassinate me 20 times - President Jalal Talabani of Iraq
Far more attention should be paid to creating conditions under which the poor can increase their share of future national income gains - The 2005 Human Development Report, published by the UN Development Programme, which found that, while Ireland ranked as the world's second-wealthiest country, there was still a huge gulf between rich and poor
In the context of evolution, it is pretty obvious that God did not make man, but that man made God. God did not exist until man had the idea of God - Prof David McConnell, of Trinity College, Dublin, arguing in The Dubliner magazine that there is no evidence for the existence of God.
People had had enough of them after 2½ years. Imagine if they were around again for five years. Sure we'd be back in the Third World in jig time - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern scorning the idea of a Fine Gael/Labour coalition
The public is tired of a Government that will be in office for 10 years shortly, tired of the broken promises, tired of the failed health service, tired of being ripped off - Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, offering a riposte
These diets turn food into a big issue and people get obsessive about it. It has to be a long-term lifestyle decision, not a quick-fix solution - Dr Claire MacEvilly, of the British Medical Research Council, casting doubt on the effectiveness of "celebrity" diets
There is absolutely no justification for selling petrol at anything like €1.30 a litre. Anything over €1.20 would be hard to explain on current wholesale prices. Motorists who see prices much above that should just drive on to somewhere else - Conor Faughnan, of AA Ireland, suggesting that some service stations are engaged in profiteering
It's lovely to see you . . . We're the best of the Shankill and we bid you welcome - Betty Orr, principal of Edenbrooke primary school on the loyalist Shankill Road in Belfast, greeting President McAleese
It doesn't matter how many firearms are preserved in aspic or destroyed forever, the gardaí will pursue this investigation to the very end - Minister for Justice Michael McDowell saying that IRA disarmament will not deflect the Garda investigation into the "Colombia Three"
There are plenty of things that could happen yet. There have been twists and turns already - Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham refusing to give up hope after defeat by France in the crucial World Cup qualification match