Verbatim

'We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ballpoint pen fight with a gun?' ROBERT MUGABE, President of Zimbabwe, refusing to cede power to opponent Morgan Tsvangirai regardless of the results of a June 27 runoff election

'Take it from me, elections matter.' AL GORE, 2000 Democratic presidential candidate, endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama at a Detroit rally

'Our goal is to bring back stability to the oil market.' IBRAHIM AL-MUHANNA, adviser at the Petroleum Ministry of Saudi Arabia, after officials announced plans to increase output to a record 10 million bbl. a day

'Weapons will be in the hands of this group exclusively and will be directed only at the occupier.' MUQTADA AL-SADR, Iraqi Shi'ite cleric, establishing a new force of Mahdi Army fighters to battle U.S.-led troops in Iraq

'There's a reason why people like her. It's because she doesn't, sort of, you know, fuel the fire.' MICHELLE OBAMA, wife of Barack Obama, appearing on ABC's The View, saying she was "taking some cues" from First Lady Laura Bush

'To me, it's a technical change.' RON PAUL, Texas Congressman, on the formal end of his presidential bid and his new campaign to elect more libertarian-leaning Republicans to public office

'I hope we made you proud.' KEVIN GARNETT, Boston Celtics forward, to Celtics legend Bill Russell, after the team beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92--the widest margin in NBA-finals history--to claim its first championship since 1986

For daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes

Sources: Guardian; Washington Post; International Herald Tribune; TIME.com ABC; AP (2)