Quotables

‘We risk having a generation that hasn’t held a job. Personal dignity comes from working, from earning your bread. Young people are in a crisis.’

On his first overseas trip as head of the Catholic church, the Argentinian Pope Francis visited Brazil, where crowds mobbed him upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro when his driver took a wrong turn down a street not blocked for his security. The pope arrived amid mass protests in Brazil and elsewhere over chronic unemployment and plans to cut government spending on transportation and other services.

‘We are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken.’

President Barack Obama, in a July 14 statement following the not-guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman. The president on July 19 made a surprise visit to the White House press room to speak about the case, to call for an examination of state and local laws related to gun violence and race. “I’m not naïve about the prospects of some grand, new federal program,” he said, while also asserting, “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”

‘I can die a happy man never having been president of the United States of America. But it doesn’t mean I won’t run.’

Vice President Joe Biden, acknowledging in a wide-ranging interview with GQ on July 18 that he may consider running for high office in 2016. Biden, who is 70, said his first consideration will be, “Am I still as full of as much energy as I have now?”

‘One little piece at a time.’

Dan Steininger, one of an elite group of worldwide Lego model builders, finishing up eight-foot tall Ninja turtles unveiled in July at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.: “I have a sweet job. I’m kinda like Tom Hanks in the movie Big. I get paid to play.”

‘Thank you, Lord.’

Mariano Rivera, known as the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history, upon receiving the Most Valuable Player award at his final All-Star game. Rivera, 43, is retiring at the end of this season.