Verbatim: May 16, 2005

"I think this guy is a loser."

HARRY REID, Senate minority leader, referring to President George W. Bush in a civics discussion with high school students in Las Vegas; he called the White House soon afterward to apologize

"Humility is something I work on every day."

TOM DELAY, embattled House majority leader, speaking at a National Day of Prayer service on Capitol Hill

"The lack of deliberate action doesn't rule out blame attributable to negligence, imprudence or even simple incompetence."

SILVIO BERLUSCONI, Italian Prime Minister, in response to a U.S. military investigation exonerating American soldiers in the March shooting death of Italian intelligence agent Nicola Calipari in Iraq

"There will not be any permanent freeze, because this is our legitimate right to have this [nuclear] technology and produce what we need for the country. No incentive can substitute for our legitimate right."

KAMAL KHARRAZI, Foreign Minister of Iran, when asked in an interview with TIME if there are any circumstances that could lead to an end to the country's uranium enrichment*

"Not only do they give you a beautiful face and skin, but they also protect you from disease."

MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, South African Health Minister, who advocates using garlic and lemon rind as AIDS treatments and warns against antiretroviral drugs because of dangerous side effects

"It was for a damn good reason that I attacked him. He was found with another woman."

PATSY CISNEROS, wife of New Mexico state senator Carlos Cisneros, on why she hit him on the head with a hammer

"We are wasting our time with 'One, two, three, four, we can't shake it anymore.'"

SENFRONIA THOMPSON, Texas state representative, protesting her colleagues' focus on passing a bill authorizing the education department to punish schools for allowing "overtly sexually suggestive" cheerleading routines at sports events

Sources: AP; New York Times (2); TIME; New York Times; Albuquerque Journal; Reuters

*To read the entire interview, go to time.com