Quotes of Note

"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that." -- JOHN McCAIN, in his concession speech Tuesday

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too." -- President-elect BARACK OBAMA, in his victory speech

"I knew that people in the villages of Kenya and Haiti, and mansions and palaces in Europe and China, were all watching this young African-American male assume the leadership to take our nation out of a pit to a higher place." -- The Rev. JESSE JACKSON, explaining why he was crying during Obama's speech

"This is the fall of the Berlin Wall times 10." -- RAMA YADE, France's junior minister for human rights, on the significance of Obama's election

"Today, reality in America has superseded fantasy . . . Americans have struck a deadly blow to racism all over the world." -- DAWOOD AL-SHIRIAN, prominent Saudi columnist, on Obama's victory

"Like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs. We have work to do, and Tuesday Americans sent Washington a clear message - get the job done." -- US Representative RAHM EMANUEL, who accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff in his administration

"If the president calls me and asks me to talk to him about something, I'm going to talk to him. Whatever I am going to do, I am going to keep faith in what I've been fighting for." -- Senator JOHN KERRY, on the possibility of being offered a Cabinet position

"I am committed to resigning my office as soon as I can do so consistent with my need to effectuate an orderly transition, including closing out hundreds of active constituent matters, filing and storing 16 years of files consisting of hundreds of boxes, assisting my current staff in finding new employment, and putting related affairs in order." -- State Senator DIANNE WILKERSON, on Wednesday

"It's time, it's time. It's time to call it a day."-- Governor DEVAL PATRICK on Thursday, urging Wilkerson to step down