I would say that the Irish are a genius people for literature. Why, most of them seem to have won the Nobel Prize for literature.
- The Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, during his five-day tour of the country
We've achieved more in five days with the Taoiseach here than in five years on our own in China.
- Joe Moore, director of SIGMA Wireless Technologies
Now, Gerry, here's the chance for you to show that leadership and discipline I know you are capable of. Gerry, you brought the Semtex here, what about a big bang to get rid of as much of it as you can.
- Sir John Gorman, former chairman of the Northern Ireland Forum, to Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, during an Assembly debate on the Omagh bomb
There can be neither trust nor equality if one party to the agreement is not prepared to destroy their weapons of war.
- The North's First Minister, David Trimble, referring to IRA arms
I want to make friends with Dr Paisley.
- Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams
We stand in your shadow. You have shown us what greatness really is. Your determination to build a new life is a lesson to us all.
- Jane Morrice, of the Women's Coalition, on the people of Omagh
I can't put the past into the past because there is so much in the news that brings it all back.
- Michelle Williamson (31), whose parents were murdered in the Shankill bombing
Due to shortages please do not remove crockery and cutlery from here.
- Notice in the members' can- teen at Stormont
I'm just asked less.
- Bob Geldof, on being no less opinionated than he was
What we are doing and witnessing today will be written and talked of by church historians for decades and centuries to come.
- Dissident Bishop Pat Buckley, in his homily during the ordination into the priesthood of Sister Frances Meigh
I understand from my press officer that Conor O'Clery did not want other journalists in Beijing to know that he had the permission to visit. So, I think, in some way, he did not want to have the pool that I was very anxious to have.
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on the controversy surrounding the refusal to allow The Irish Times's Asia correspondent to accompany her to Tibet
I did not, could not and indeed would not, oppose a pool to go to Tibet. The suggestion that a foreign correspondent can influence the Chinese government in how an event is covered is extraordinary.
- Mr O'Clery
A monster . . . worthy of the reports of the inquisition . . . where deviants and heretics were hunted down to the depths of their souls.
- Le Monde editorial describing Kenneth Starr's report
What he did in the Oval Office is disgusting. Ronald Reagan wouldn't even go in there without a coat and tie. . . It shows a real lack of class.
- Tom Hamm, Arkansas salesman, on President Clinton
L'enthousiasme de Monsieur le President.
- French newspaper Le Figaro, tactfully describing the semen stain on Monica Lewinsky's dress
I'm not the President of London.
- Mary McAleese, explaining to The Times (of London) why she is not as well known there as in Ireland