2008: A year in quotations

Politics is a frequent source of memorable quotations, and the 2008 American presidential campaign saw some striking contenders. Who can forget Sarah Palin saying 'What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick', or Paris Hilton unexpectedly joining in 'I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead'? A more unexpected political comment came from Queen Elizabeth II on the credit crunch: 'If these things were so large, how come everyone missed them?' and a surprising claim from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the same subject: 'We not only saved the world...[laughter]...saved the banks'.

The Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, a triple Olympic champion in Beijing, summarized his achievement with 'I just blew my mind. I blew the world's mind'. The English singer Victoria Beckham sees sport differently 'I'd love to go to the gym, but I just can't get my head around the footwear'. The Serbian footballer Nemanja Vidic, playing for Manchester United, was unenthusiastic about his workplace: 'Manchester is the city of rain. Its main attraction is considered to be the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities'.

The American swimmer Michael Phelps, another Olympic champion, attributed his success to his diet of 12,000 calories a day 'Eat, sleep and swim. That's all I can do'. The English anthropologist Desmond Morris also enjoyed his food: 'I had ants in Africa recently: they were rather nice and crispy', but the English actress Emma Thompson was not a fan of crisps: 'They are steeped in sin and, if eaten for long enough and in quantity, will almost certainly kill you'.

The American actor and director George Clooney looked at status in his profession: 'Theatre actors look down on film actors, who look down on TV actors. Thank God for reality shows or we wouldn't have anybody to look down on'. Meanwhile fellow actor and film director Sylvester Stallone, still doing stunts in his latest Rambo movie, simply said 'I feel like I'm 20 again - but with arthritis'. An alternative view on age came from the American writer Stephen King: 'I turned 60 and finally had to kill my teddy bear'.

For an optimistic start to 2009, perhaps we should return to politics and Barack Obama's victory speech: 'If there is still anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time...tonight is your answer'.

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