Thursday, Apr. 03, 2008

Verbatim

'Chill out, and let everybody have their say. We're going to win this election.' BILL CLINTON, urging Democrats to allow the primary process to work itself out, in a speech at California's Democratic Party convention

'For the first time in history, we are no longer on top.' MONSIGNOR VITTORIO FORMENTI, on new Vatican data indicating that Catholics are no longer the world's largest religious group. Muslims now make up 19.2% of the population, while Catholics constitute 17.4%

'The possibility that a black hole eats up the earth is too serious a threat to leave it as a matter of argument among crackpots.' MICHELANGELO MANGANO, theorist at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), in response to a U.S. lawsuit charging that CERN's new particle accelerator could endanger the planet

'I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table.' NANCY PELOSI, U.S. Speaker of the House, recommending that the U.S. consider not attending the Games' premiere in protest of the Chinese crackdown in Tibet

'There is no evidence that the Duke of Edinburgh ordered Diana's execution.' LORD JUSTICE SCOTT BAKER, coroner, testifying at a trial to determine what caused the 1997 car accident that resulted in Princess Diana's death

'My heart sinks, but I know they can't hurt him anymore.' KEITH MAUPIN, father of Staff Sergeant Keith Matthew Maupin, who in 2004 became the first U.S. soldier in Iraq to be declared missing in action, after his son's remains were identified

MORE OF THE BEST QUOTES AT TIME.COM For daily sound bites, visit time.com/quote

Sources: Los Angeles Times; Reuters; New York Times; AP; BBC; AP