Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali /ɑːˈliː/was an American Olympic and professional boxer and activist. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. From early in his career, Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBoxer
Date of Birth17 January 1942
CityLouisville, KY
CountryUnited States of America
beautiful ideas hair
When I was 9, I saw a wrestler on television named Gorgeous George. He said, "I'm beautiful. I'm so pretty that if a sucker touches my face, I'll kill him. If he messes with my hair, I'll pummel him." I said to myself, "That's a good idea. I am the greatest, I'm pretty." And then I took it a little further than he did.
ohio rivers black-history
I came back to Louisville after the Olympics with my shiny gold medal. Went into a luncheonette where black folks couldn't eat. Thought I'd put them on the spot. I sat down and asked for a meal. The Olympic champion wearing his gold medal. They said, "We don't serve niggers here." I said, "That's okay, I don't eat 'em." But they put me out in the street. So I went down to the river, the Ohio River, and threw my gold medal in it.
land people laughing
People sold everything - their cars, their land for miles, to come in and see me beat. I went to the bank laughing every time.
justice trying needs
I try to learn as much as I can because I know nothing compared to what I need to know.
dog home simple
Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand 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?
country men japan
You can go to Japan, China, all the European, African, Arab, and South American countries, and man, they know me. I can't name a nation where they don't know me.
brother cutting thinking
I think we're all brothers - that's the truth. But the press gave us the name black Muslims to cut us off from the others.
want remember
Just remember that you don't have to be what they want you to be.
race looks conflict
When I meet a new person, I don’t see race or religion. I look deeper. We must learn to satisfy our conflicts peacefully and to respect one another.
grateful hard-work loss
I am grateful for all my victories, but I am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder.
grateful hard-work loss
I am grateful for all my victories, but I am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder.
opponents
My toughest opponent has always been me.
jobs done today
Even today, if my title hadn't been given back to me and I was in such poverty where I had to go and find a job, I would have done that.
mother jesus eye
I always asked my mother, I said, 'Momma, how come is everything white?' I said, 'Why is Jesus white with blond hair and blue eyes? Why is the Lord's supper all white men? Angels are white, the Pope, Mary, and even the angels.' I said, 'Mother, when we die, do we go to Heaven?' She said, 'Naturally we go to Heaven.' I said, 'Well, what happened to all the black angels?'