Muhammad Ali

Now, if I even say the wrong thing I make the news.

Muhammad Ali

Number one comes freedom first for my people and equality. And this is what I plan to do after I’m through fighting – working with nothing but the people, the little people in the alleys: the downtrodden people, going out and helping them with my image.

Muhammad Ali

On my twelfth birthday, I got a new bicycle as a present from my folks, and I rode it to a fair that was being held at the Columbia Gymnasium, and when I come out, my bike was gone. I was so mad I was crying, and a policeman, Joe Martin, come up and I told him I was going to whip whoever took my bike. He said I ought to take some boxing lessons to learn how to whip the thief better, and I did. That’s when I started fighting.

Muhammad Ali

Once we realize we are all members of humanity, we will want to compete in the spirit of love.

Muhammad Ali

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

Others may know pleasure, but pleasure is not happiness. It has no more importance than a shadow following a man.

Muhammad Ali

People don’t realise what they had till it’s gone. Like President Kennedy – nobody like him. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley – I was the Elvis of boxing.

Muhammad Ali

People sold everything – their cars, their land for miles, to come in and see me beat. I went to the bank laughing every time.

Muhammad Ali

Someone stole my bicycle and I said I was going to learn to fight so that I could catch him and beat him up. But I never did catch him. But I ended up the champ of the whole world.

Muhammad Ali

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