Inserting variables

I have a form which variables ($q1 and $q2) to a PHP script and the sql statment is also passed as a hidden vriable called $sqlstatement When I set $sqlstatement = INSERT INTO tdefa8 VALUES ("$q1", "$q2", "2001-10-09") THEN it inserts "$q1" and "$q2" into the database - rather than their assigned values When I set $sqlstatement = INSERT INTO tdefa8 VALUES ($q1, $q2, "2001-10-09") THEN it doesn't insert ANYTHING FYI: I execute the statemnet like this: $query = "$sqlstatement"; $result = MYSQL_QUERY($query); I even tried: $query = $sqlstatement; Any ideas?