Nobody should take for granted another 50 years of peace and prosperity in Europe . . . that's why I say: If the euro fails, Europe fails. We have a historical obligation: to protect by all means Europe's unification process begun by our forefathers after centuries of hatred and blood spill. None of us can foresee what the consequences would be if we were to fail. – German chancellor Angela Merkel
I am pleased to stand before you this morning and confirm that Europe is closer to resolving its financial and economic crisis and to getting back on a path of growth. We are showing that we can unite in the most difficult of times. – European Commission president José Manuel Barroso
He died as he lived, doing good. – Fr Padraic McDermott, at the removal of Garda Ciaran Jones, who died while warning motorists about a dangerous bridge during heavy rain last Monday
I would have loved because of my experience to have been there for a few more years because I honestly believe, and it is not taking away from Brian Cowen or anybody else, that my experience of dealing with the currency crisis and being in Finance, I could have played a key role in that. – Bertie Ahern, in a television interview with Mike Murphy
I think, by definition, all power has limits. I don't think there is such a thing on this earth as absolute power; and those who try to exercise it, like Gaddafi, find out eventually that that is a Potemkin village when it comes to the exercise of power and leadership. So our country — we have always had budgetary limits. Now they're perhaps more constraining than they were before, so we have to be smarter. We can't do the Marshall Plan, so how do we zero in on what's important to people? – Hillary Clinton on the limits of American power.
I can't believe it – it's our worst-ever day. – Manchester Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the 6-1 home defeat by Manchester City
Our task now is to address the issues that really matter to people, like health, education, the economy, jobs, housing, unemployment, safe roads. – Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott addressing his party's annual conference