Cassius Clay is a name that white people gave to my slave master. Now that I am free, that I don't belong anymore to anyone, that I'm not a slave anymore, I gave back their white name, and I chose a beautiful African one.

I don't know what truculent means, but if it's good, it's me

Number one comes freedom first for my people and equality. And this is what I plan to do after I'm through fighting - working with nothing but the people, the little people in the alleys: the downtrodden people, going out and helping them with my image.

Old age is just a record of one's whole life.

If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.

I don't consider myself no attractive man. People like Tom Jones and Elvis Presley - I'm not nothing like that.