A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing.

My lectures, based on Islamic teachings, were on various subjects. Some of the titles were, 'The Intoxication of Life,' 'The Purpose of Life,' 'The Real Cause of Man's Distress,' 'The Journey to the Goal in Life,' and, one of my favorites, 'The Heart of Man.' They contained important insights that spoke to something deep inside me.

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.

To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole. And for the U.S.A. won the medal of gold. The Greeks said, 'You're better than the Cassius of old.'

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

I said I was 'The Greatest,' I never said I was the smartest!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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