Muhammad Ali

“I used to tease Joe Louis by reminding him that I was the greatest of all time. But Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight fighter ever.”

“I'm no leader; I'm a little humble follower.”

“We who follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad don't want to be forced to integrate. Integration is wrong. We don't want to live with the white man; that's all.”

“You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned? Wait till I whup George Foreman's behind.”

“Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.”

“Joe Frazier got hit more than me - and he doesn't have Parkinson's.”

“My way of joking is to tell the truth. That's the funniest joke in the world.”

“If I said I would knock out Sonny Liston in 1 minute and 49 seconds of the first round, that would hurt the gate.”

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

“It will be a killer, and a chiller, and a thriller, when I get the gorilla in Manila.”

“All of us are so mixed. My great-grandfather was white.”

“America is the greatest country in the world.”

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

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

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

“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.”

“The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

“What keeps me going is goals.”

“No one knows what to say in the loser's locker room.”

“To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich.”