I AM both deeply privileged and slightly frightened to say a few words of farewell to our friend Jack Lynch. My own inadequacy to mark the passing of one of the great Irish political leaders of this century overwhelms me.
- Des O'Malley TD in his oration at the graveside of the former Taoiseach
He was a great friend of golf and everyone . . . much loved . . . He was one of the few who called me by my full name, Severiano, and we had a very good relationship. When we think of him it is in Spanish: nos ha dejado a todos helados - we feel like ice.
- Severiano Ballesteros, of Payne Stewart, who died in an aircraft crash
I'm tired of this bullshit. I don't really even want to fight any more.
- Boxer Mike Tyson of criticism he received for clubbing his Texan opponent to the canvas a split-second after the first-round bell
Achieving agreement on the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement has now taken an important step closer to realisation . . . People have peered over the precipice and they don't like what is on the other side. I am cautiously optimistic.
- SDLP negotiator Sean Farren on the Mitchell review
The mood has changed. The overall ambience is better. I wouldn't want to put it stronger than a glimmer of hope.
- UUP negotiator Dermot Nesbitt, also on the review
Sooner or later this will succeed.
- David Trimble, Northern Ireland First Minister
Tony Blair is a political kleptomaniac. He stole my policies.
- John Major
There's been a bloke on television who looked just like you. But don't worry, lad, he were bloody terrible.
- Chat show veteran Michael Parkinson recalls a remark by a publican after his first TV appearance
We live in a violent world, a very chaotic world, where every day if you watch the news you get that hour and a half inoculation of horror.
- Actor Bruce Willis
I had no idea Gogarty was giving this bundle of money to Burke. If anyone had suggested it, I would have called a halt. I've never bribed anyone in my life.
- Joseph Murphy snr after it was put to him by counsel for James Gogarty that he was aware of a £30,000 payment to Ray Burke
Don't think the military is crazy. They know the whole society is changing . . . that the military has to change its attitude towards society. Don't think like the international press, judging the military in the wrong way.
- President Wahid of Indonesia after he appointed a civilian as defence minister
It will make the authorities think twice before they ever try to do this against a journalist again.
- Ed Moloney, Northern Editor of the Sunday Tribune, after a court order instructing him to hand over interview notes to police was overturned
I think it is laughable. It is an insult to all nurses. There is a very strong feeling here that we should stay on the picket line until we have our say.
- Member of the INO on the Labour Court award in the nurses' dispute
Welcome back to the streets.
- Des Geraghty, SIPTU vice- president, to a student protest at the Dail, which he likened to the protests of the 1960s
It is not just the dead cows which have had their spines taken out.
- William Hague, Conservative leader, urging Labour ministers to "stick up" for Britain in the escalating dispute over France's ban on British beef