Tough
"Westpac looks to tougher times" — Financial Review headline on article reporting Westpac bank's $1.132 billion profit.
Win some, lose some
"The good news is that air bags work and air bags save lives. We also know air bags can cause deaths." — Andrew H. Card, president of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Another movie in the making?
"It's very important to explain publicly that we are not holding back information." — CIA director John Deutch, denying any cover-up after CIA whistle-blowers charged that the agency has concealed evidence that the Gulf War syndrome being suffered by thousands of US troops may have been caused by chemical weapons.
Whatever it is
"I've made my position clear on her." — Prime Menzies John Howard on MP Pauline Hanson.
Opportunity knocks but twice
"A Liechtenstein company, Prometh, is offering 'reincarnation accounts' to wealthy clients, Newsweek reports. If you give Prometh 'seed capital for your next life' of at least US$130,000, they'll invest it for you when you die — and if you come back they give you the capital plus profits." — Sydney Morning Herald, November 14.
Patriotism
"Why should gangsters not be allowed to love their country? If they act to support the national movement, gangsters are very welcome." — Toyohisa Etoh, 59-year-old leader of the Japan Youth Federation, on the far-right group's assistance from mobsters for its campaign over the Diaoyu islands, disputed between Japan and China.