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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

When people are forced to interact to survive, their prejudices diminish.

I do a lot of reading, a lot of studying. I ask questions, I'll go out, travel these countries, I'll watch how their people live, and I learn.

There are billions of people in the world, and every one of them is special. No one else in the world is like you.

We are all God's people. We are prejudiced and we separate into Jews, Mexicans, Italians, but God doesn't see colors.

I try not to speak about all the charities and people I help, because I believe we can only be truly generous when we expect nothing in return.

I can love freedom and the flesh and blood of my people moreso than I do the money.

I love my people and I don't hate nobody and it keeps me out of trouble.

Life is like a ship. There's people dancing on a ship.There's a lot of money on the ship, but I cannot integrate on the ship or get equality on the ship.And I never could. I'm just in the galley working and I never could get up to see the captain of the ship.

Genius borrows nobly. When Shakespeare is charged with debts to his authors, Landor replies: “Yet he was more original than his originals. He breathed upon dead bodies and brought them into life”.

The intellect is vagabond, and our system of education fosters restlessness.

There is no knowledge that is not power.

Men are what their mothers made them.

Skill to do comes of doing.

The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.

So is cheerfulness, or a good temper, the more it is spent, the more remains.

No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.

Power ceases in the instant of repose; it resides in the moment of transition from a past to a new state, in the shooting of the gulf, in the darting to an aim.

Success treads on every right step. For the instinct is sure, that prompts him to tell his brother what he thinks. He then learns, that in going down into the secrets of his own mind, he has descended into the secrets of all minds.

Who would thought only of themselves and kill their race? You would hate other people if you don't want to stay who you are.

You got black people in an all-white country and they don't know nothing about themselves.

I don't consider myself no attractive man. People like Tom Jones and Elvis Presley - I'm not nothing like that.

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

How come the Chinese can go where I can't go in America? Englishmen can come and set up a business in white America and do things I can't do.The Puerto Rican, Hawaiians, just about everybody can do more than black people and are more respected.

I have more fans and more followers and more supporters. Because the people who actually saw the Joe Frazier Muhammad Ali fight, they saw me win at least nine rounds - the people who know boxing.

It's impossible for 30 million black people to be violent against 170 million - we need a mental revolution, unity in coming together, and not physical.

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.

God works through people. It’s not me.

I'm the greatest fighter in the entire world, how can I be afraid? I love people and people love me.

The word had spread and people were piling around us. But then very suddenly, Sonny Liston froze me with that look of his. He said real quiet, 'Let's go on over here.' And he led the way to a table and the people hung back. I ain't going to lie. This was the only time since I have known Sonny Liston that he really scared me.

I do need publicity but not for what I do for good. I need publicity for my book. I need publicity for my fights. I need publicity for my movie but not for helping people. Then it is no longer sincere.

To the people that have said I'm too small, I'm not fast enough, I don't have what it takes, I'm not strong enough. THANK YOU

People will know you’re serious when you produce.

What’s my greatest weakness? Sad stories, people with problems

There's nothing stressful about turning 50 except people reminding you about it.

Some people have special resources inside, and when God blesses you to have more than others, you have a responsibility to use it right

The world badly needs more peaceful and loving men like Sri Chinmoy. I am a Muslim and he is serving all people of peace. Sri Chinmoy is doing so much for the world, for people of all faiths, because of his own peace and faith.

Islam is against killing, terrorism, and murder. People who commit these acts in the name of Islam are wrong. And if I had a chance I would do something about it.

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.

Character is higher than intellect.[…] A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think.

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own.

The great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness.