Favourite quotes

Favourite Quotes

"The greatest thing that could happen to this State - and the Nation - is when we can get rid of the media. Then we could live in peace and tranquillity, and no one would know anything."

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, former Premier of the Australian state of Queensland, quoted in the Spectator, London, 12 December 1987

“I did a lot, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I took all kinds of action, but there is no need for me to tell you what they were.”

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, responding to criticism that he didn’t do enough to combat corruption during his term of office, quoted in The Star, Malaysia, 31 May 2005

“Beautiful women can easily get rich husbands while less beautiful ones need the government to give them salaried jobs. This is fair measure because the beautiful will have husbands to look after them while the non-beautiful will have money.”

Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Chief Minister of the Malaysian state of Kelantan, directing state government officers not to employ beautiful women, quoted in The Star, Malaysia, 15 July 1999

"They're not even within 100 miles of Baghdad . They are not in any place. They hold no place in Iraq . This is an illusion... they are trying to sell to the others an illusion.”

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, former Iraqi Information Minister, responding to journalists’ questions about the CNN live coverage of American tanks advancing on the outskirts of Baghdad , 2 April 2003

"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here."

George W. Bush, President of the United States , at the President's Economic Forum in Waco , Texas , 13 August 2002

"I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavour for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves."

George W. Bush, President of the United States , Washington , D.C. , 21 September 2003

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

George W. Bush, President of the United States , Washington , D.C. , 5 August 2004

"I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport ."

George W. Bush, President of the United States , Washington , D.C. , 3 October 2001

"I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being President."

George W. Bush, President of the United States, as quoted in Bob Woodward's book ‘ Bush at War’

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."

George W. Bush, President of the United States,in an interview with CBS News, 2006

“ It depends upon what the meaning of the word is means. If is means is, and never has been, that's one thing. If it means, there is none, that was a completely true statement.”

Bill Clinton, former President of the United States, in 1998 grand jury testimony on the Monica Lewinsky affair

“We do know, of certain knowledge, that he is either in Afghanistan or in some other country or dead.”

Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense, responding to a question on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden at a Pentagon press briefing, 27 December 2001

“Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.”

Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense, at a Pentagon press briefing, 12 February 2002

“If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly.”

Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense, addressing troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 27 April 2002

“Father told me that if I ever met a lady in a dress like yours, I must look her straight in the eyes.”

Prince Charles of England , quoted in the Reader’s Digest, October 1975

“ Do you seriously expect me to be the first Prince of Wales in history not to have a mistress? ”

Prince Charles of England , quoted in the Daily Mail. London , 1994

“ [F]or the majority of people, the use of tobacco has a benficial effect. ”

Dr Ian G. Macdonald, Los Angeles surgeon, quoted in Newsweek, 18 November 1963

Here are some other quotes that I like. These have been widely circulated in the Internet, but I don’t know where or when they were said:

"It has been rumored that we have fired scud missiles into Kuwait . I am here now to tell you, we do not have any scud missiles and I don't know why they were fired into Kuwait ."

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, former Iraqi Information Minister

“I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I said, and…well, I assume it's what I said.”

Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense

“Money doesn't make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the U.S. state of California

“I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted.”

George Best, U.K. footballer

“Speaking as a man, it's not a woman's issue. Us men are tired of losing our women.”

Dan Quayle, former Vice-President of the United States, talking about raising breast cancer awareness

“Bank failures are caused by depositors who don't deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement.”