Verbatim

‘If I die, I die. So be it.’ SARAH PALIN, on risking her political future by announcing on July 3 that she would resign as governor of Alaska at the end of the month

‘It is not a state secret that he wears Speedo swimming trunks. For goodness’ sake, let’s grow up.’ DAVID MILIBAND, British Foreign Secretary, defending Sir John Sawyers, the incoming head of MI6, the U.K.’s Secret Intelligence Service, after Sawyers’ wife was assailed for posting photos and personal information on Facebook

‘I’m not an enemy. I never was.’ AAFIA SIDDIQUI, a U.S.-trained Pakistani scientist accused of aiding al-Qaeda, addressing the court during a hearing in New York City

‘You can. Go work for the Federal Government.’ CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa Senator, when asked at a town hall why most Americans can’t receive the same quality of health insurance he enjoys

‘Financiers must rediscover the genuinely ethical foundation of their activity.’ POPE BENEDICT XVI, calling for global economic reform in a July 6 encyclical

‘Believe me, he knew. He kind of looked like a clown when I was talking to him.’ JIM INHOFE, an Oklahoma Republican, saying he meant no offense when he called a fellow Senator, Minnesota’s Al Franken, a “clown”

‘It was great shaking my hand today. I thoroughly enjoyed that.’ TIGER WOODS, after winning the AT&T National, a golf tournament that benefits his charitable foundation

Back & Forth:

Economy

‘We misread how bad the economy was.’ Vice President JOE BIDEN, reacting to news that the national unemployment rate had reached 9.5%–the highest figure in 26 years–despite the Obama Administration’s $787 billion economic-stimulus package

‘I would actually, rather than say misread–we had incomplete information.’ President BARACK OBAMA, countering that officials knew the recession was “going to be deep” and “going to last a while”

Media

‘Our mistake was to suggest that we would hold and participate in an off-the-record dinner with journalists and power brokers paid for by a sponsor.’ KATHARINE WEYMOUTH, publisher of the Washington Post, after the newspaper sent out flyers advertising $25,000 “sponsorships” for an exclusive salon at her home in which lobbyists could meet with White House officials and the Post reporters who cover them

‘Even if this was just an unvetted marketing blunder, the Post’s reputation has taken a huge hit.’ RICHARD LEIBY, acting arts editor at the Washington Post, on the incident’s impact

LEXICON

Jailbreak v.–To hack an Apple iPhone to install unapproved software

USAGE: “In the neverending cat-and-mouse game with Apple, iPhone hackers have been toiling away for weeks trying to jailbreak the iPhone 3GS, which went on sale in mid-June. On [July 3], a hacker who calls himself ‘geohot’ released the first jailbreaking software for the device.” –Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2009

For daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes

Sources: ABC News; BBC; AP; Des Moines (Iowa) Register; New York Times; Tulsa (Okla.) World; PGATour.com