To my mathematical brain, the numbers (billions of galaxies and stars) alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational. The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like. If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans.
 . Stephen Hawking on some of the universe's greatest mysteries.

Kashmir pact was just a signature away had the anti-Musharraf surge over the sacking of the chief justice not convulsed Pakistan. We agreed on a point between complete independence and autonomy.
 . Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former foreign minister of Pakistan.

They (Conservatives) are a bit late to the party (for developing special relationship with India). Britain and India have never had closer relations is the truth, led by the remarkable relationship between Prime Minister Brown and Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh. The Anglo-India relationship is safe in Labour's hands.
 . British foreign secretary David Miliband

I suppose it was my middle class Bengali arrogance — why should I take my work to the world, the world should come to me
 . Bengali writer Mani Sankar Mukherjee on why the English translation of his novel Chowringhee took more than 40 years after it was first written.

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