Verbatim 2006

"This too will pass."

DONALD RUMSFELD, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, predicting in April that calls from retired generals for him to step down would fade away. Seven months later, Rumsfeld resigned

"I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner."

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, on his regrets about the Iraq war. He said such phrases as "bring it on ... sent the wrong signal"

"How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink."

RAY NAGIN, mayor of New Orleans, who, five months following Katrina, fended off charges of racism after calling for "chocolate New Orleans" to be rebuilt. He later apologized for his comments

"Be angry at us, and die of this anger."

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, President of Iran, on what message he has for people upset about his country's pursuit of nuclear technology

"God sent me 1,000 hints that he didn't want me to keep doing what I was doing. But I didn't listen, so he set off a nuclear bomb."

JACK ABRAMOFF, disgraced Washington lobbyist, talking to a Jewish publication about his role in the Capitol Hill lobby scandal

"At 95, who needs term limits?"

SID SMITH, elderly Texan who ran for the U.S. House. He did not win

"I don't think I've ever been accused of seducing anyone, even my wife."

STEPHEN HARPER, who was elected Prime Minister of Canada in January, responding to claims that he "seduced" a Liberal Member of Parliament to join his Conservative Party

"Every decade has an iconic blond like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana, and right now I'm that icon."

PARIS HILTON, heiress and socialite, on her place in society

Sources: New York Times; White House; CNN; AP; Jewish Journal; AP; Globe and Mail; Times (London)

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