We are facing the greatest challenge in the history of our union. The financial, economic and social crisis has resulted in a crisis of confidence and trust not seen in decades. – European Commission president José Manuel Barroso
We have reduced Europe to a currency union, internal market and services directives and drowned people in technical terms and acronyms. We have reduced Europe to an intergovernmental event of 26 men and one woman. – German Social Democrat leader Peer Steinbrück on the failure of his country's politicians over Europe
In our economy, you've been told the fast buck is okay. And what's happened? We've ended up with a financial crisis, and you've ended up footing the bill. You believe in a society where everybody is responsible for their actions. But you've been told that if companies are big enough or powerful enough they can get away with anything. And what's happened? Big vested interests like the energy companies have gone unchallenged, while you're being ripped off. – British Labour leader Ed Miliband distances himself from Tony Blair's legacy
There remains a fairly high level of trust to the current president. But on the other hand, I would like to turn your attention to the fact that, at the moment, prime minister Putin is the most authoritative politician in our country, and his approval ratings are somewhat higher. For some reason, nobody is talking about that. – Russian president Dmitri Medvedev explains why he is stepping aside to allow his predecessor to return
I'm not stupid. Just because you sing, it doesn't mean you're stupid. – Dana Rosemary Scallon on her capacity to make the right judgment calls as president
I've decided I want three lovers. The first would be enormously rich with one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana skin. The second would be someone who's passionate about something – science, painting, anything. I don't care. Passion is so sexy. And finally I want someone who comes to see me twice a week. I don't even have to know his name. – Liza Minnelli