You have to keep your goal in mind and never lose sight of it. I envisioned myself winning the heavyweight title for ten years before I actually captured it. If you're not driven to do your best, you'll never reach the level of excellence in your life.

Sonny Liston stood up to me and actually made me give ground. No one has ever done that to me before or since.

I always carried a small American flag red white and blue with me so people would know I was from America.

I didn't come back for the money. I just got sick of beating people up for free.

I think sleeping was my problem in school. If school had started at 4:00 in the afternoon, I'd be a college graduate today.

When I was a boxer, I wanted to be champion of the world, not the richest man in the world.

If I could take a punch like that, I might have been able to think up a name besides George for all my sons.