MARION BARRY

People have criticised me because my security detail is larger than the president's. But you must ask yourself: are there more people who want to kill me than who want to kill the president? I can assure you there are.

People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn't break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then?

I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa?

When you know more, you can do more.

The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.

I am clearly more popular than Reagan. I am in my third term. Where's Reagan? Gone after two! Defeated by George Bush and Michael Dukakis no less.

This is not a sham, not a game. This is the real stuff.

The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist.

I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600's. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican.

I promise you a police car on every sidewalk.

First, it was not a strip bar, it was an erotic club. And second, what can I say? I'm a night owl.

My greatest work comes in the community.

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?

I have to admit I didn't do as much as I should have back when I was mayor, but now we're getting it done. It's not where you've been but where you're going.

You can't win an election with money alone.

There's no crime in being a poor role model.

Outside of the killings, we have one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

Our neighbors in Virginia are just as responsible for these killings as the criminals are because they won't pass strong gun control legislation.

Our children are our future. And our future is in jeopardy.

I didn't run to be pope. I ran to be mayor.

He can't run nothing but his mouth.

Government is not guaranteed to work right.

If you ignore the homicides, Washington actually has a very low crime rate.

Goddamn bitch set me up!

I am a great mayor. I am an up-standing Christian man. I am an intelligent man. I am a deeply educated man. I am a humble man.