Verbatim

‘China is not afraid of the Internet.’ CHINA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY, denying reports that Beijing blocked YouTube for showing undated clips of Chinese soldiers beating Tibetan monks

‘If you had said to us a year ago that the least of my problems would be Iraq–which is still a pretty serious problem–I don’t think anyone would have believed it.’ BARACK OBAMA, during an interview with 60 Minutes

‘It is time for France to be true to its conscience.’ HERVE MORIN, French Defense Minister, announcing that the nation will pay out more than $13.5 million to people with illnesses resulting from decades of nuclear testing

‘This finding will officially end the era of denial on global warming.’ ED MARKEY, head of the House climate-change committee, on the EPA’s conclusion that greenhouse gases threaten public health

‘Too many bishops are treating parishes as if they were Starbucks franchises. It’s about more than money.’ CHRISTINE SCHENK, a Cleveland-area nun, denouncing a spate of church closures due to depopulation and financial strains

‘Somebody had to get a little lucky with him.’ RALPH AMENDOLARO, a Queens, N.Y., construction worker, explaining his rationale for playing Bernard Madoff’s prison number in the New York Lottery. He won $1,500

‘It’s not gonna happen. I’m a Wasp. I was raised to suppress my emotions.’ ANDERSON COOPER, CNN anchor, refusing to dance with Ellen DeGeneres on her show

Back & Forth:

Environment

‘How can you say you’re going to blade off hundreds of thousands of acres of earth to preserve the earth?’ DAVID MYERS, head of the Wildlands Conservancy, criticizing a proposal to build massive wind, solar and geothermal plants in the Mojave Desert

‘You’ve got the short-term impact of a project vs. a long-term problem, which is climate change.’ PAM EATON, executive at the Wilderness Society environmental group, arguing in favor of the plan, which is expected to power as many as 250,000 homes

Diplomacy

‘The United States wants the Islamic republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations.’ BARACK OBAMA, in a video message coinciding with Iran’s spring Nowruz holiday, offering to end years of strained relations if Tehran alters its foreign policy

‘They chant the slogan of change, but no change is seen in practice. We haven’t seen any change.’ Iranian Supreme Leader AYATULLAH ALI KHAMENEI, dismissing Obama’s overture in a speech before tens of thousands in the holy city of Mashad

Congress

‘Will you act your age and stop playing with that sign?’ BARNEY FRANK, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, blasting a group of protesters who call themselves Code Pink for interrupting a congressional hearing

‘He was a grump blossom.’ GAEL MURPHY, one of the Code Pink activists, making light of Frank’s threats to eject the group from the proceedings for their “silliness”

Sources: BBC; CBS; New York Times; AP; CNN; New York Daily News; Huffington Post

For daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes