Muhammad Ali
I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him.Collection: Best
When I won the Golden Gloves in 1960, that made me realize I had a chance. And when I won at the Olympics, that sealed it: I was the champ.Collection: Chance
The word 'Islam' means 'peace.' The word 'Muslim' means 'one who surrenders to God.' But the press makes us seem like haters.Collection: Peace
I'm more at home with my log cabins than I am in my house in Cherry Hill.Collection: Home
The name Muhammad is the most common name in the world. In all the countries around the world - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon - there are more Muhammads than anything else. When I joined the Nation of Islam and became a Muslim, they gave me the most famous name because I was the champ.Collection: Famous
Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer.Collection: Good
I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'Collection: Inspirational
When you can whip any man in the world, you never know peace.Collection: Peace
My only fault is that I don't realize how great I really am.Collection: Great
The man who has no imagination has no wings.Collection: Imagination
It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am.Collection: Great
No boxer in the history of boxing has had Parkinson's. There's no injury in my brain that suggests that the illness came from boxing.Collection: History
It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.Collection: Faith
The only thing that matters is submitting to the will of God.Collection: God
I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace.Collection: Religion
Life is a gamble. You can get hurt, but people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents; people die every day. Same with fighters: some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just don't let yourself believe it will happen to you.Collection: Life
I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.Collection: Motivational
Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths.Collection: Religion
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.Collection: Power
I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.Collection: Love
Old age is just a record of one's whole life.Collection: Age
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.Collection: Sports
Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.Collection: Change
My principles are more important than the money or my title.Collection: Money
A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.Collection: Life
Ali's got a left, Ali's got a right - when he knocks you down, you'll sleep for the night; and when you lie on the floor and the ref counts to ten, hope and pray that you never meet me again.Collection: Hope
Anywhere I go, there is always an incredible crowd that follows me. In Rome, as I land at the airport, even the men kiss me. I love Rome.Collection: Men
Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.Collection: Friendship
I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.Collection: Great
God tries you in certain, certain ways. Some people are rich, and they believe in God. They lose the money, things get hard, they get weak and quit going to church. Quit serving God like they did.Collection: Money
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.Collection: Life
Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.Collection: Age
Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.Collection: Men
I'm just hoping that people understand that Islam is peace and not violence.Collection: Peace
My way of joking is to tell the truth. That's the funniest joke in the world.Collection: Truth
Never put your money against Cassius Clay, for you will never have a lucky day.Collection: Money
At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far.Collection: Home
I used to tease Joe Louis by reminding him that I was the greatest of all time. But Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight fighter ever.Collection: Time
Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.
I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick.
It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.
It's not bragging if you can back it up.
What keeps me going is goals.
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.
I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing, and the shadow won.