Success story

Success story

"Russia will be a success story, whatever the difficulties." — International Monetary Fund managing director Michel Camdessus after agreeing to provide the Yeltsin government with a US$1.5 billion loan if it implements new taxes and cuts government spending.

Youthful look

"Not so much rejuvenation as in-breeding." — An unnamed federal Labor parliamentarian on the construction of the "new" cabinet, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, March 25.

Choice

"I also had the view that no political party or government has been particularly successful in picking its own media megalomaniac." — Former treasurer John Kerin on government involvement in the 1991 contest to see who would take over Fairfax.

Aim for the stars

"My expectations of people and events were never so high as to be disappointed." — Retiring Senator Graham Richardson on why politics had not disillusioned him.

Sounds good to us

"It's about time Greeks learned to behave like other Europeans. They go to bed at illogical hours and then, exhausted, sleep through the day at work and school." — Stelios Papathemelis, Greek public order minister, defending his curfew bill, which bans dancing and sale of drinks after 2am.

And about time

"If the party is intent on destroying itself, it is destroying not only a great institution, but the hopes of many Australians, particularly those hoping for a better deal." — Andrew Refshauge, NSW ALP deputy leader and a leader of the "left" faction, on the head office decision to cancel two preselections in which right-wing MPs were likely to be defeated.

From GLW issue 137