how to store as a varchar2 a string containing single quotes

I am very interested to store in a database the following kind of string data, which correctly resembles part of an SQL command:

decode( handled_status, 'F', 0, 'U', 1, 'S', 2, 3 )

1. I am trying to avoid storing the chr( ) function as part of the string data
2. I am reluctant to do any auxiliary conversions on the string that would require conversion back to this before use

The string would be stored in a regular Oracle table as varchar2.

Help! I'm really out of ideas, and if I can't do this without going against #1 or #2 (or both), then say so! But I need something here! Received on Tue Sep 11 2001 - 20:09:02 CDT