What keeps me going is goals.

Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.

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

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

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

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.

Wisdom is knowing when you can't be wise.

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

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

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

We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

The man who has no imagination has no wings.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.'

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I don't have to be what you want me to be.

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

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

I said I was 'The Greatest,' I never said I was the 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.