When I heard the truth about my name was not Cassius Clay, like I knew a black man in America named John Hawkins. Now, you know who John Hawkins was.He was a slave trader from England. But the white people of that time, if one had five slaves and his name was Jones, they would be called Jones' property. [...] Now that I'm free, now that I'm no longer a slave, then I want a name of my ancestors.

My toughest fight was with my first wife.

I've never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself

I know I got it made while the masses of black people are catchin' hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free.

Children make you want to start life over.

Be loud, be pretty and keep their black-hatin' asses in their chairs

Oh! how the hours hasten to change into days, the days into months, the months into years, and those into life's annihilation!