The present tax code is about 10 times longer than the Bible, a lot more complicated, and, unlike the Bible, contains no good news.

Sen. DON NICKLES (R-Okla.), in the Republican radio address last weekend.

We really give God the glory and the praise for her pregnancy, the outcome, the babies, her decision to continue the pregnancy as God gave it to her.

PAULA MAHONE, one of the physicians who helped deliver the McCaughey septuplets, in a post-delivery news conference at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

We Work For You.

Slogan on lapel buttons worn by Internal Revenue Service agents during "problem-solving days" at IRS offices. The charm offensive for the beleaguered IRS begins as Republicans open a public-relations drive to win support for a major overhaul of the tax laws.

This is the most terrifying thing I've ever lived through, and I've lived through a lot.

ANITA DENISE GARCIA, a woman who 12 years ago survived a commercial airliner crash in Dallas, and drifted into what she describes as an abusive relationship with Randolph Gonzales. The man was arrested last week on extortion, theft, and drug charges, but released on $45,000 bond. She alleges he drugged, beat, abused, and robbed her, and forced her to marry him. Ms. Garcia says the plane crash "was just an accident. This is pure evil."

It's in the spirit of the old Iowa barn raising.

ERIC WOOLSON, a spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, on the likelihood that local residential construction companies will chip in to build a larger home for Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey. The family of three last week suddenly became a family of 10.

'She can't suspend all of us.' That's the kind of attitude that was there, so I suspended them.

Northern High School principal ALICE MORGAN-BROWN, on why she suspended 1,200 of the 1,800 students in the Baltimore school who refused to report to their homeroom and pick up their report cards. Some chanted, "Hell, no. We won't go." Ms. Morgan-Brown insisted her actions were to restore order.

This is a story that appeared, largely uncorroborated, with anonymous sources, in a conservative right-wing publication. It was picked up on the hate-radio talk circuit and inflamed yesterday. Sitting here and denying or clarifying or amplifying treats the absurd as something that is worthy of comment.

Presidential spokesman MIKE McCURRY, on an Insight magazine report suggesting aides to President Clinton traded burial plot rights in Arlington cemetery in exchange for campaign donations.