By the grace of God, I just went down a stairway and found a way to get out and let everybody know how to get out.

Blanche Jones, passenger on the Amtrak train that derailed 50 miles south of Chicago.

Because I'm going to buy a Humvee.

Medicare Commission co-chairman Sen. John Breaux, (D-La.), on why his proposal to means-test the Medicare program will pass, referring to the 1989 mobbing of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski's car by senior citizens opposed to means-testing the program.

Sometimes the good guys win.

Charlton Heston, commenting on the decision to present a lifetime achievement award to 89-year-old director Elia Kazan at this year's Academy Awards. The decision provoked controversy in Hollywood because Mr. Kazan exposed many communists in the film industry during congressional investigations in the 1950s.

We may have lost access to our church building, but we have not lost faith. In the end, Jesus wins.

Episcopal priest Thomas Morris, as his congregation held services on the sidewalk outside its regular church building. Mr. Morris and his congregation at St. Paul's Church opposed the 1994 decision by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to sanction same-sex unions and ordain noncelibate homosexuals as priests. The congregation withheld fees from the diocese in protest, leading to its eviction.

The culture and climate in western Maryland is one of helping your neighbor and being empathetic and those sorts of things.

Unitel vice president Ken Carmichael, explaining that his company was moving about 100 telemarketing jobs from Frostburg, Md., to Florida in hopes of finding more aggressive salespeople.