...the mayor should not be advancing a policy that encourages [illegal] immigrants to think of New York City as their safe haven.

No, I am not a homosexual. If I were a homosexual, I would hope I would have the courage to say so. What's cruel is that you are forcing me to say I am not a homosexual. This means you are putting homosexuals down. I don't want to do that.

In action be primitive; in foresight, a strategist.

When I was first elected I got 50% of the vote in '77 in the general election. In '81 I got 75%. In '85, I got 78%. No mayor has ever gotten that high a vote. So it was not an issue. Except for people who were very hostile to me. They thought they would injure me.

I intend to vote for President George W. Bush in the next election, because in my view, he is best able to wage the war against international terrorism.

I'm just a simple Jewish boy from the Bronx.

The most guileful amongst the reporters are those who appear friendly and smile and seem to be supportive. They are the ones who will seek to gut you on every occasion.