“Steady acceleration of growth bears testimony to the wisdom of the saying, slow and steady wins the race. The Indian tortoise will win the race against many Asian hares.”
Prime minister Manmohan Singh in India Today (June 16)

“We want more Indian students because we want the best in the world to come to Oxford.”
Oxford University vice-chancellor Chris Patten at a conference jointly organised by FICCI and Said Business School, Oxford (June 23)

“Zimbabwe has plunged into horrendous violence while you have been mediating. With respect, if we continue like this, there will be no country left.”
Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader, in a letter to Zimbabwes appointed mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki (Time, June 23)

“There is concern about leadership needed in various areas of Indias progress. It is not unemployment that is a major problem; it is the question of unemployability that is a bigger crisis in this competitive era. What kind of management leaders do we need to generate?”
Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam speaking at IIM-Bangalore (June 25)

“There is no doubt that the Indo-US deal will be in the interest of India… The pain of Left parties stems from their excessive love for China which makes them oppose any move which strengthens India by improving ties with the US.”
Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray in party mouthpiece Saamana (June 25)

“Our study estimates that about Rs.9,000 million (Rs.900 crore) have been paid as bribes by the poor (in 2007).”
Bhaskara Rao, chairman of Centre of Media Studies, Delhi (Mint, June 28)

“Manekshaw was one of the finest communicators the Indian Army has ever had. And for managers struggling to learn the intricacies of that complex thing called leadership, the model to follow is Manekshaw.”
Major General Ashok Mehta in an obituary of Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw (1914-2008) in Business Standard (June 28/29)