Muhammad Ali Quotes

Often it isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the little pebble in your shoe.

The day I met Islam, I found a power within myself that no man could destroy or take away from me.

Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer

Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.

The critics only made me work harder.

Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.

What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming.

When it comes to love, compassion, and other feelings of the heart, I am rich.

My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.

Impossible is nothing.

Truly great people in history never wanted to be great for themselves. All they wanted was the chance to do good for others and be close to God.

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'.

You lose nothing when fighting for a cause ... In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about.

I'm a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I'm no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won't hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.

If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.

Now I had won the gold medal. But it didn't mean anything, because I didn't have the right color skin.

Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.

We can't be brave without fear.

Inside of a ring or out ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong.

Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.

The greatest victory in life is to rise above the material things that we once valued most.

At home I am a nice guy but I don't want the world to know. Humble people I've found don't go very far.

I try not to speak about all the charities and people I help, because I believe we can only be truly generous when we expect nothing in return.

This is the legend of Cassius Clay, The most beautiful fighter in the world today.He talks a great deal, and brags indeed-y, of a muscular punch that's incredibly speed-y.The fistic world was dull and weary,But with a champ like Liston, things had to be dreary.Then someone with color and someone with dash, Brought fight fans are runnin' with Cash.This brash young boxer is something to see And the heavyweight championship is his des-tin-y.This kid fights great; he’s got speed and endurance,But if you sign to fight him, increase your insurance.This kid's got a left; this kid's got a right,If he hit you once, you're asleep for the night.And as you lie on the floor while the ref counts ten,You’ll pray that you won’t have to fight me again.For I am the man this poem’s about,The next champ of the world, there isn’t a doubt.This I predict and I know the score,I’ll be champ of the world in ’64.When I say three, they’ll go in the third,10 months agoSo don’t bet against me, I’m a man of my word.He is the greatest! Yes!I am the man this poem’s about,I’ll be champ of the world, there isn’t a doubt.Here I predict Mr. Liston’s dismemberment,I’ll hit him so hard; he’ll wonder where October and November went.When I say two, there’s never a third,Standin against me is completely absurd.When Cassius says a mouse can outrun a horse,Don’t ask how; put your money where your mouse is!I AM THE GREATEST!

Throughout my life, I never sought retribution against those who hurt me because I believe in forgiveness. I have practiced forgiving, just as I want to be forgiven. Only God knows what's in a person's heart, his true intentions. He sees and hears all things.

Even when I knew people were cheating me, what was important was how I behaved, because I have to answer to God. I can't be responsible for other people's actions: They will have to answer to God themselves

You don’t have to be in a boxing ring to be a great fighter. As long as you are true to yourself, you will succeed in your fight for that in which you believe.

When you're as great as I am it's hard to be humble.

Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer.

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.

The man who has no imagination,has no wing

Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.

All through my life, I have been tested. My will has been tested, my courage has been tested, my strength has been tested. Now my patience and endurance are being tested.