Verbatim

‘I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion, which is to focus on the life and service of Diana.’
CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES, Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles, stating that she will not be attending a memorial service for Diana, Princess of Wales, on Aug. 31

‘History proved France right.’
NICOLAS SARKOZY, French President, reaffirming the country’s decision not to enter the war in Iraq in his first foreign-policy address

‘Our country is so big that even if we have the information that something is planned, we do not know where or when.’
SHIVRAJ PATIL VINEET, Home Minister of India, on the Aug. 25 bombings in Hyderabad that killed 42 people. Indian intelligence had learned of plans for an attack in the southern city, but could not determine the targets

‘We are living through an unspeakable tragedy.’
KOSTAS KARAMANLIS, Prime Minister of Greece, on southern wildfires that have killed at least 64 people

‘I’ve seen this movie before, and [it] always ends up in some form of recession.’
ANGELO MOZILO, head of struggling U.S. mortgage giant Countrywide Financial, on the dim prospects for improvement in the country’s housing market

‘Please do it while I’m living. Let me experience the pleasure.’
RED MASCARA, 85-year-old New Jersey resident, whose song I’m from New Jersey has come close to becoming the state’s official song repeatedly over the past 47 years. A state senator has instead proposed a Bon Jovi hit for New Jersey’s anthem