Quotes of note

The Rev. JESSE JACKSON, on the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson

"[He] scrambled the color line with incredible vigor and technological innovation. The morphing of faces one into another, from white to black, Asian into Hispanic, curly red Irish locks into dreads - broke so many barriers of race, ethnicity and national origin.’’

The Rev. AL SHARPTON, on Jackson

"The real Michael Jackson died a long time ago.’’

DAN SCOTT, 28, of Kenmore Square

"I spent the last five days of my life crying in Argentina.’’

Governor MARK SANFORD of South Carolina, explaining his disappearance while visiting his Argentine mistress

"Too bad if a governor had to go missing it couldn’t have been the governor of Alaska. You know, Sarah Palin.’’

Senator JOHN F. KERRY

"There’s no doubt there’s been a lot of lobbying on the lobbying bill by the lobbyists.’’

Massachusetts Secretary of State WILLIAM F. GALVIN, on the ethics reform bill

"There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white, or a rape.’’

Former President RICHARD NIXON, on newly released tapes, discussing the Roe v. Wade decision

"Every single Iranian is valuable. The government is at everyone’s service. We like everyone.’’

President MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD of Iran, on the government’s handling of peaceful protests after elections

"Ali said to me, ‘You’re either my favorite student or you’re out of the program, depending on your accuracy.’ ’’

DANIEL W. BERMAN, a former Winchester High School student now pursuing a degree in Iranian studies in Scotland, on his professor’s response on his project revealing widespread irregularities in the recent elections in Iran