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.

Someone stole my bicycle and I said I was going to learn to fight so that I could catch him and beat him up. But I never did catch him. But I ended up the champ of the whole world.

I said, 'Oh, I know. If the white folks is in Heaven too, then the black angels were in the kitchen, preparing the milk and honey.'

The roughest and toughest fighter I fought was Joe Frazier

There are two things that are hard to hit and see. That's a spooky ghost and Muhammad Ali.

I’m gonna show you how great I am.

I can love freedom and the flesh and blood of my people moreso than I do the money.