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Muhammad Ali Quotes

Total quotes: 32
“Everyone has his or her own lessons to learn and obstacles to overcome. The experiences should not be weighed against each other because they are all equally important in the end.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Life Obstacles, Overcoming, Life Lessons
“The greatest victory in life is to rise above the material things that we once valued most.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Materialsim, 107 Of The Greatest Single Sentences In Literature, Perfect Sentences
“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.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: History, God
“Think well of all, be patient with all, and try to find the good in all.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Be Patient, Love, Goodness In Everyone
“They want something from me. Something more. Some word or comment. But I’m too tired. Besides, I already told them. And I already told you. Didn’t you hear me? I said I was The Greatest.”
— Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story
Tagged: The Greatest, September 30, Manila
“We spend more time learning how to make a living than we do learning to make a life.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Life, Living
“The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did when he was twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Growing Up, How Things Change, 20 vs. 50, Getting Older, Perspectives Change
“Every man wants to believe in himself. And every man wants to be fearless. We become heroes when we stand up for what we believe in.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Hero, Courage, Believe In Yourself
“They've never had a Black man stand up and identify with the struggle of his people.”
— Muhammad Ali, Talking about the fall of his boxing career
Tagged: Boxing, Sports, Politics, Race
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”
— Muhammad Ali
Tagged: Life, Personal Growth
“My father raised us well. He made sure we were surrounded by good people, taught us to always confront the things we feared, and to try to be the best at whatever we did.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Parents, Fatherhood
“I realized that we are only brave when we have something to lose and we still try. We can’t be brave without fear.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Bravery, Fear
“Everything that God created has a purpose. The sun has a purpose. The clouds have a purpose. Rain has a purpose. Trees have a purpose. Animals have a purpose; even the smallest insects, and fish in the sea have a purpose.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: purpose, God, Theology, Animals, Divine Purpose
“Religions all have different names, but they all contain the same truths. [...] I think the people of our religion should be tolerant and understand people believe different things.”
— Muhammad Ali, Responds to the 9/11 attacks
Tagged: War, Faith, Religion, 9/11
“I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me”
— Muhammad Ali, via Tumblr
Tagged: Muhammad Ali, Black, Confidence, Ownership, America
“You are my opposer when I want freedom. You are my opposer when I want justice. You are my opposer when I want equality. You won't even stand up for me in America for my religious beliefs, and you want me to go somewhere and fight — but you won't even stand up for me here at home! ”
— Muhammad Ali, Debate over the Vietnam Draft
Tagged: Vietnam War, War, Debate, Race, Social Justice
“My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Immaterial Wealth, self, Love, Spirituality
“Now I'm gonna show you how great I am.”
— Muhammad Ali, Why Do We Fall - Motivational Video - Motivational Video- Motivational Video
Tagged: Motivational Speech, Sports
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
— Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times
Tagged: motivational sports quotes, Sports Quotes, Boxing Quotes, motivation
“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”
— Muhammad Ali
Tagged: Confidence
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
— Muhammad Ali
Tagged: Compassion, Care, Service
“Well, Black people have actually been in jail for four-hundred years here in America. But I don't worry about jail, I believe in Allah, I believe in Elijah Muhammad — as the messenger of god —and many great men have had to go to jail. So I don't pay attention to it. If the time comes, I'll have to go.”
— Muhammad Ali, Responds to the prospect of going to jail
Tagged: Vietnam War, Politics, Islam, Religion, Faith, Prison
“We don't hate white people. We know white people. We know the history of white people. If a tiger broke into this room right now, I'd beat you getting out. If a rattlesnake broke in, I'd beat you getting off of this stage. I don't hate rattlesnakes, I don't hate tigers, I just know I can't get along with them. ”
— Muhammad Ali, On race
Tagged: Race, Politics, Race relations
“Every day these messages shaped the images that I and other nonwhite children had of ourselves. I didn’t know how, but I knew that I was going to help my people. Somehow, I was going to make a difference in the world. The more injustice that I saw, the stronger my feelings grew. It made me feel that I was here for a reason.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Black Lives Matter, Injustice
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
— Muhammad Ali, How Disruption Brought Order: The Story of a Winning Strategy in the World of Advertising
Tagged: Law OF Attraction, Relationships, Love, Life
“Outrun the people who quit when they feel discomfort, outrun the people who stop because of despair, outrun the people who are delayed because of prejudice, outrun the people who surrender to failure, and outrun the opponent who loses sight of the goal. Because if you want to win, the will can never retire, the race can never stop, and faith can never weaken.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Discomfort, Keep Going, Never Retire, Keep Fighting, strength
“I'd like for them to say he took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, one pinch of concern, and then, he mix willlingness with happiness, he added lots of faith, and he stired it up well, then he spreads it over his span of a lifetime, and he served it to each and every deserving person he met.”
— Muhammad Ali, Responds to question "What would you like people to think about you when you've gone?"
Tagged: Life, Remembering, Love
“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. Every step of the way I believe that God has been with me. And, more than ever, I know that he is with me now. I have learned to live my life one step, one breath, and one moment at a time, but it was a long road. I set out on a journey of love, seeking truth, peace, and understanding. I am still learning.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Learning, Faith in God, Courage, Life
“Turning my back on Malcolm was one of the mistakes that I regret most in my life. I wish I’d been able to tell Malcolm I was sorry, that he was right about so many things. But he was killed before I got the chance. He was a visionary ahead of us all…. I might never have become a Muslim if it hadn’t been for Malcolm. If I could go back and do it over again, I would never have turned my back on him.”
— Muhammad Ali, via Tumblr
Tagged: Activism, racism, Friendship, Black Lives Matter
“[When a restaurant refused to serve him at his local hometown because of skin color.] You all know me. I was born in General Hospital, only a block away. I was raised here. I went to Central High. And now I’ve brought back an Olympic Gold Medal for all the people of Louisville. I fought for the glory of my country and you should be ashamed of what you’re doing. You serve any foreigner here, but not an American Negro citizen. You’ll have to take me to jail, because I’ll stay until I get my rights. You should be ashamed.”
— Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story
Tagged: racism
“One day I won’t be around to answer people’s questions, or advise young aspiring athletes. What I want to say is for the people whom I’ve never met. It is for the boys and girls whose hands I will never hold. It is for the champions to come. These comments are for every spirit on the downside of advantage.

Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something deep inside— a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have the skill and the will.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Dying, Death
“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.”
— Muhammad Ali, via Tumblr
Tagged: War, Peace, racism, Black Lives Matter, Inspirational, humanity
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