Muhammad Ali Quotes

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Nation, Muslim, Became, Famous

It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.

- Muhammad Ali

Myself, Challenges, Afraid, Faith

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

- Muhammad Ali

Courage, Accomplish, Take, Risks

I'm more at home with my log cabins than I am in my house in Cherry Hill.

- Muhammad Ali

Cherry, More, Am, Log

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

- Muhammad Ali

Color, Matter, Which, Hating

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Week, Alligator, Thunder, Injured

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Die, Some, Plane, Legs

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

- Muhammad Ali

Silence, Think, Golden, Answer

It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.

- Muhammad Ali

Sports, Waves, Grows, Beat

I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round.

- Muhammad Ali

Double, Knock, Pick, Round

Terrorists are not following Islam. Killing people and blowing up people and dropping bombs in places and all this is not the way to spread the word of Islam. So people realize now that all Muslims are not terrorists.

- Muhammad Ali

People, Terrorists, Bombs, Dropping

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

- Muhammad Ali

Here, Service To Others, Rent

To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich.

- Muhammad Ali

Give, Will, Away, Mandatory

If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.

- Muhammad Ali

Better, Wake, Even, Beating

Go up in an airplane. Go high enough, and it's like we don't even exist.

- Muhammad Ali

High, Like, Exist, Airplane

My way of joking is to tell the truth. That's the funniest joke in the world.

- Muhammad Ali

Truth, World, Tell, Funniest

We who follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad don't want to be forced to integrate. Integration is wrong. We don't want to live with the white man; that's all.

- Muhammad Ali

Follow, Want, Forced, Integrate

I didn't want to submit to the army and then, on the day of judgment, have God say to me, 'Why did you do that?' This life is a trial, and you realize that what you do is going to be written down for Judgment Day.

- Muhammad Ali

Going, Submit, Written Down, Trial

Superman don't need no seat belt.

- Muhammad Ali

Need, Belt, Seat, Superman

It will be a killer, and a chiller, and a thriller, when I get the gorilla in Manila.

- Muhammad Ali

Will, Gorilla, Get, Killer

I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived cuz there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them.

- Muhammad Ali

Away, Satellites, Villages, Moses

Joe Frazier is so ugly that when he cries, the tears turn around and go down the back of his head.

- Muhammad Ali

Tears, Joe, Cries, Frazier

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Tell, Joe, Helluva, Frazier

Joe Frazier got hit more than me - and he doesn't have Parkinson's.

- Muhammad Ali

More, Hit, Joe, Frazier

Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the U.S. Bureau of Wild Life.

- Muhammad Ali

Face, Should, His, Frazier

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Bed, Last, Turned, Last Night

I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own.

- Muhammad Ali

My Own, Pilots, Joe, Astronaut

My lectures, based on Islamic teachings, were on various subjects. Some of the titles were, 'The Intoxication of Life,' 'The Purpose of Life,' 'The Real Cause of Man's Distress,' 'The Journey to the Goal in Life,' and, one of my favorites, 'The Heart of Man.' They contained important insights that spoke to something deep inside me.

- Muhammad Ali

Some, Distress, Favorites, Titles

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

- Muhammad Ali

Inspirational, Rest, Your, Champion

People don't realize what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy, there was no one like him, the Beatles, and my man Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing.

- Muhammad Ali

Like, Till, Elvis Presley, President Kennedy

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Behind, Away, Before, Lights

I'm the greatest thing that ever lived! I'm the king of the world! I'm a bad man. I'm the prettiest thing that ever lived.

- Muhammad Ali

World, Ever, Prettiest, Greatest Thing

No one knows what to say in the loser's locker room.

- Muhammad Ali

Loser, Say, Locker Room, Locker

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

- Muhammad Ali

Change, Maps, Fought, Map

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Used, Joe, Heavyweight, Tease

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Defeated, Reach, Like, Extra

The Nation of Islam's main focus was teaching black pride and self-awareness. Why should we keep trying to force ourselves into white restaurants and schools when white people didn't want us? Why not clean up our own neighborhoods and schools instead of trying to move out of them and into white people's neighborhoods?

- Muhammad Ali

Own, Nation, Clean Up, Self-Awareness

Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths.

- Muhammad Ali

Religion, Rivers, Contain, Streams

I've made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven't lived in vain.

- Muhammad Ali

Mistakes, Vain, Made, Changed

It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.

- Muhammad Ali

Mountains, Climb, Ahead, Pebble

What keeps me going is goals.

- Muhammad Ali

Me, Going, Keeps, Goals

Allah's the Arabic term for God. Stand up for God, fight for God, work for God and do the right thing, and go the right way, things will end up in your corner.

- Muhammad Ali

Work, Will, Allah, Right Way

I calculate that I took 20,000 punches, but I earned millions and kept a lot of it. I may talk slow, but my mind is OK.

- Muhammad Ali

Mind, Punches, Took, OK

I figure I'll be champ for about ten years and then I'll let my brother take over - like the Kennedys down in Washington.

- Muhammad Ali

Over, Like, Figure, Kennedys

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.

- Muhammad Ali

Friendship, School, Learn, Meaning Of

If I said I would knock out Sonny Liston in 1 minute and 49 seconds of the first round, that would hurt the gate.

- Muhammad Ali

Out, Knock, Minute, Gate

I have been so great in boxing they had to create an image like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to counteract my image in the ring. America has to have its white images, no matter where it gets them. Jesus, Wonder Woman, Tarzan and Rocky.

- Muhammad Ali

Woman, Ring, Been, Tarzan

I should be a postage stamp, because that's the only way I'll ever get licked. I'm beautiful. I'm fast. I'm so mean I make medicine sick. I can't possibly be beat.

- Muhammad Ali

Medicine, Sick, Stamp, Possibly

The fact is, I was never too bright in school. I ain't ashamed of it, though. I mean, how much do school principals make a month?

- Muhammad Ali

Fact, Ashamed, Though, Principals

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Chance, Made, Sealed, Champ

You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned? Wait till I whup George Foreman's behind.

- Muhammad Ali

Think, Wait, Behind, Resigned

When you can whip any man in the world, you never know peace.

- Muhammad Ali

Peace, World, Never, Whip

Ever since I first came here in 1963 to fight Henry Cooper, I have loved the people of England.

- Muhammad Ali

People, England, Here, Cooper

Sonny Liston is nothing. The man can't talk. The man can't fight. The man needs talking lessons. The man needs boxing lessons. And since he's gonna fight me, he needs falling lessons.

- Muhammad Ali

Falling, Needs, Man Needs, Sonny

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.

- Muhammad Ali

Life, Fifty, Years, Twenty

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

- Muhammad Ali

Butterfly, Bee, Like, Sting

I would say things like 'I am the greatest! I'm pretty! If you talk jive, you'll drop in five! I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! I'm pretty!' When white people heard me talking like this, some said, 'That black man talks too much. He's bragging.'

- Muhammad Ali

Bee, Drop, Some, Sting

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Had, Boxer, The History Of, Parkinson

I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace.

- Muhammad Ali

Peace, Allah, Islam, I Believe

I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given. I believed in myself, and I believe in the goodness of others.

- Muhammad Ali

Myself, Given, Ordinary Man, I Believe

I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.

- Muhammad Ali

Thought, The Only Thing, Defeats

A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing.

- Muhammad Ali

Him, Rooster, Put, Crows

My trainer don't tell me nothing between rounds. I don't allow him to. I fight the fight. All I want to know is did I win the round. It's too late for advice.

- Muhammad Ali

Advice, Too Late, Allow, Between

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Humble, Want, Very, Nice Guy

The white man is destroying the world.

- Muhammad Ali

Man, World, White, Destroying

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Night, Counts, Knocks, Ali

The word 'Islam' means 'peace.' The word 'Muslim' means 'one who surrenders to God.' But the press makes us seem like haters.

- Muhammad Ali

Like, Muslim, Means, Haters

I got no quarrel with them Vietcong.

- Muhammad Ali

Got, Them, Quarrel

I shook up the world, I shook up the world.

- Muhammad Ali

World, Up, Shook

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Some, Going, Tries, Serving

I said I was 'The Greatest,' I never said I was the smartest!

- Muhammad Ali

Never, Said, Greatest, Smartest

Cassius Clay is a name that white people gave to my slave master. Now that I am free, that I don't belong anymore to anyone, that I'm not a slave anymore, I gave back their white name, and I chose a beautiful African one.

- Muhammad Ali

Back, Belong, Anymore, Chose

My only fault is that I don't realize how great I really am.

- Muhammad Ali

How, Only, Fault, Realize

I had a good time boxing. I enjoyed it - and I may come back.

- Muhammad Ali

Boxing, Back, May, Good Time

I give thanks to God and to all the people in the U.K. who have supported me over the years.

- Muhammad Ali

Give, Thanks, Over, Supported

I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing, and the shadow won.

- Muhammad Ali

Shadow, Boxing, Won, Foreman

No intelligent black man or black woman in his or her right black mind wants white boys and white girls coming to their homes to marry their black sons and daughters.

- Muhammad Ali

Woman, Mind, Black, Homes

Never put your money against Cassius Clay, for you will never have a lucky day.

- Muhammad Ali

Money, Lucky, Never, Clay

To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole. And for the U.S.A. won the medal of gold. The Greeks said, 'You're better than the Cassius of old.'

- Muhammad Ali

Goal, Old, Russian, Medal

I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.

- Muhammad Ali

Love, I Wish, Everybody, Everybody Else

It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.

- Muhammad Ali

Deep, Happen, Conviction, Begin

I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to help uplift and inspire people around the world.

- Muhammad Ali

Everyone, Uplift, Use, Knows

All black Americans have slave names. They have white names; names that the slave master has given to them.

- Muhammad Ali

Names, Slave, Given, Master

I'm just hoping that people understand that Islam is peace and not violence.

- Muhammad Ali

Peace, Understand, Islam, Hoping

If you lose a big fight, it will worry you all of your life. It will plague you - until you get your revenge.

- Muhammad Ali

Revenge, Worry, Big, Plague

You can't keep your mind on fighting when you're thinking about a woman. You can't keep your concentration. You feel like sleeping all the time.

- Muhammad Ali

Woman, Mind, Like, Sleeping

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Love, Rome, Always, Kiss

My principles are more important than the money or my title.

- Muhammad Ali

Money, Important, More, Title

My toughest fight was with my first wife.

- Muhammad Ali

Wife, Fight, First, Toughest

I've been everywhere in the world, seen everything, had everything a man can have.

- Muhammad Ali

World, Been, Had, Everywhere

I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.

- Muhammad Ali

World, Would, Figured, Convince

It's not bragging if you can back it up.

- Muhammad Ali

You, Back, Up, Bragging

If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.

- Muhammad Ali

Bread, Sure, Make, Penicillin

There are no pleasures in a fight but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.

- Muhammad Ali

Some, Been, Fights, Pleasures

Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.

- Muhammad Ali

White, Other, Lot, Boxing

There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.

- Muhammad Ali

More, Than, Pleasant, Beat

I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.

- Muhammad Ali

Bad, Need, His, Beat

It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am.

- Muhammad Ali

Great, Humble, I Am, Be Humble

The man who has no imagination has no wings.

- Muhammad Ali

Man, Imagination, Who, Wings

All of us are so mixed. My great-grandfather was white.

- Muhammad Ali

White, Us, Mixed, Great-Grandfather

The only thing that matters is submitting to the will of God.

- Muhammad Ali

Will, Only, The Only Thing, Matters

Don't feel sorry for me.

- Muhammad Ali

Me, Feel, Sorry

I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.

- Muhammad Ali

Great, I Am, Even, Greatest

I'm no leader; I'm a little humble follower.

- Muhammad Ali

Humble, Leader, Little, Follower

White people just don't want their slaves to be free. That's the whole thing.

- Muhammad Ali

White, Want, Whole, Slaves

Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.

- Muhammad Ali

Age, Think, Old, Whatever

I had to prove you could be a new kind of black man. I had to show the world.

- Muhammad Ali

World, New, Prove, New Kind

It's in my blood to be around people while I was training.

- Muhammad Ali

Blood, Around, While, Training

I know I got it made while the masses of black people are catchin' hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free.

- Muhammad Ali

Black, Made, While, Masses

Life is so, so short. Bible says it's like a vapor.

- Muhammad Ali

Bible, Short, Like, Says

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.

- Muhammad Ali

Motivational, Truth, Going, Know

Old age is just a record of one's whole life.

- Muhammad Ali

Old Age, Old, Whole, Record

America is the greatest country in the world.

- Muhammad Ali

World, America, Country, Greatest Country

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