(FORTUNE Magazine) – -- LEE IACOCCA, 66, CEO of Chrysler, on the economy's effect on the auto industry, in his December Playboy interview: ''There's no problem that a three-point drop in interest rates wouldn't cure.'' -- DANIEL INOUYE, 66, Democratic Senator from Hawaii, in defense of the five Senators accused of trying to help Charles Keating, Lincoln Savings' former CEO, in exchange for campaign contributions:

''If contributions are that evil, I think the whole system should be changed.'' -- JOHN PERKINS, 38, head of securities regulation in Missouri: ''If anyone tells you it's a sure thing and you ought to invest now, you should hang up the phone.''