Muhammad Ali

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

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

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.

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.

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

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__ 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__ have to draft me, I__ join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I__l go to jail, so what? We__e been in jail for 400 years.

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

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

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.

You don__ 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.

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

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

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__ 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__l pray that you won__ have to fight me again.For I am the man this poem__ about,The next champ of the world, there isn__ a doubt.This I predict and I know the score,I__l be champ of the world in _64.When I say three, they__l go in the third,10 months agoSo don__ bet against me, I__ a man of my word.He is the greatest! Yes!I am the man this poem__ about,I__l be champ of the world, there isn__ a doubt.Here I predict Mr. Liston__ dismemberment,I__l hit him so hard; he__l wonder where October and November went.When I say two, there__ never a third,Standin against me is completely absurd.When Cassius says a mouse can outrun a horse,Don__ ask how; put your money where your mouse is!I AM THE GREATEST!

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.

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

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

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