Verbatim: Jul. 2, 2007

‘Real results are more important than partisan battles, [and] good ideas should take precedence over rigid adherence to any particular political ideology.’ MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, New York City mayor, who withdrew from the Republican Party and may run for President as an independent

‘Some players have psychologists, some have sportologists–I smoke.’ ANGEL CABRERA, after defeating Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by one shot at the U.S. Open

‘I felt it was a fairly small thing, just hitting and swearing at the workers and not giving them wages.’ HENG TINGHAN, who was accused of virtually enslaving workers in Hongtong County, Shanxi province, China

‘I will go to my grave being associated with this case.’ MIKE NIFONG, who announced his resignation as Durham County, N.C., district attorney. Nifong headed the prosecution of Duke University lacrosse players who were charged with rape but ultimately had all charges dropped

‘If someone exploded a bomb on his body, he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the “sir” title.’ MOHAMMED IJAZ UL-HAQ, Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister, saying that the knighting of controversial author Salman Rushdie could justify a suicide bombing

‘I asked François Hollande to leave our home to pursue his love interest–which is now laid bare in books and newspapers–on his own.’ SEGOLÈNE ROYALE, the defeated French presidential candidate, about her separation from her partner, the Socialist Party leader. She discusses the breakup in a book to be released on June 27

MORE AT TIME.COM For more daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes

Sources: New York Times; BBC; New York Times; AP (2); New York Times