There is one hell of a difference between fighting in the ring and going to war in Vietnam.

You know I hate fighting. If I knew how to make a living some other way, I would.

I said I was the greatest, not the smartest.

Why are they picking on boxing? It's because the black men are so superior in boxing that they want to stop it. Well, the black man's so hungry he's got to fight.

I have the world heavyweight title not because it was 'given' to me, not because of my race or religion, but because I won it in the ring through my own boxing ability.

Others may know pleasure, but pleasure is not happiness. It has no more importance than a shadow following a man.

I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know I'm right.