I don't see this as an ending. I'm not stopping something. I'm just moving on.

Baseball ironman Cal Ripken, after announcing his decision to retire after 21 years as a Baltimore Oriole at the end of this season. Mr. Ripken, a two-time MVP who owns the Major League record for consecutive games played, said he plans to spend more time with his children, teach baseball, and perhaps own a baseball franchise.

I think we launder our views through our 'objective critics' and ... I don't think there's any question that they, as a body, feel that Bush is wrong on the environment.

Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Evan Thomas, on CNN's Reliable Sources, on the liberal bias of the press. He predicted that during President Bush's trip to Europe, American reporters would "use the Europeans to take the Bushies to task."

I don't think there's anything about my race that says I have to be a Democrat.

Michael Powell, FCC chairman and son of the secretary of state, in The Washington Post.

The Democrats are for big government. I experienced that, and I didn't like it.

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe, quoted on Slate.com, on why he is a Republican. Mr. Irbe was born and raised in Latvia.

He allowed me to be calm.

David Powell, staffer at First Southern Baptist Church in San Diego, quoted by the Baptist Press as thanking God after police subdued a homosexual activist who had taken him hostage in the church building. The activist was angry at the Southern Baptist Convention's highly publicized stances against homosexual behavior. Mr. Powell's three children were in the building at the time of the incident but were unaware of the situation.