"I carried the Bible."

Mexican shark fisherman Salvador Ordonez (pictured), one of three rescued this month after nine months adrift in the Pacific Ocean. The men, who ate raw fish and sea birds to survive, denied that they and two others who died were drug traffickers. To pass the hours, the survivors said they read the Bible and prayed.

"Because it's fun."

UCLA professor Terence Tao, 31, asked why he devoted himself to the study of mathematics upon receiving the Fields Medal, the mathematics world's equivalent to a Nobel prize. Tao is one of the youngest to receive the prestigious award, having earned his Ph.D. at 21 and his full professorship at 24.

"Democratic politicians may have no more babies left to kiss."

Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks, citing statistics that show a 41 percent "fertility gap" between liberals and conservatives.

"All my mothers love me."

Eighteen-year-old Mary, at a rally for polygamist families in Salt Lake City, Utah, where 15 children from polygamist homes called for tolerance of the illegal practice.