Quotables

"Unquestionably right."

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on Chief Justice John Roberts' refusal, during his Senate confirmation hearings, to answer questions that would indicate how he might rule on cases before the court. Ms. Ginsburg made the remark during a Sept. 28 speech at Wake Forest University.

"She used it to extend her professional knowledge."

Anonymous Dutch tax official, explaining to the Reuters news service why the Dutch government granted a 2,210-euro tax deduction to a woman for taking a one-year course on witchcraft.

"Pass right."

The first play that Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis called against Washington on Sept. 24. The team was on its own one-yard line, but Mr. Weis called the risky play because Montana Mazurkiewicz, a 10-year-old fan suffering from inoperable brain cancer, had requested it when the two met on Sept. 21. Montana died on Sept. 23, but Mr. Weis honored the request, and the Irish gained 13 yards.

"79-79."

The record of the San Diego Padres when they clinched the National League West division title last week, with a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 28. It's the worst record to clinch a division title in major league history.