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34 Profound Muhammad Ali Quotes That Will Remind You To Never, Ever Give Up

Quotes to remember champion Muhammad Ali, who died on June 3rd, 2016.
Jacob Geers
June 4, 2016
“My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.”
— Muhammad Ali, Regarding the Vietnam War and the draft
Tagged: Vietnam War, War, Violence, Non-Violence, Politics
“It’s part of the pride of a truly professional fighter not to indulge himself, not to be caught dead or alive in a free-for-all.”
— Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story
“[When a restaurant refused to serve him at his local hometown because of skin color.] You all know me. I was born in General Hospital, only a block away. I was raised here. I went to Central High. And now I’ve brought back an Olympic Gold Medal for all the people of Louisville. I fought for the glory of my country and you should be ashamed of what you’re doing. You serve any foreigner here, but not an American Negro citizen. You’ll have to take me to jail, because I’ll stay until I get my rights. You should be ashamed.”
— Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story
Tagged: racism
“They want something from me. Something more. Some word or comment. But I’m too tired. Besides, I already told them. And I already told you. Didn’t you hear me? I said I was The Greatest.”
— Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, The Greatest: My Own Story
Tagged: The Greatest, September 30, Manila
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”
— Muhammad Ali, On Life and Changing
Tagged: Life, Growth, Growing, Change, Changing, Finding Yourself
“One day I won’t be around to answer people’s questions, or advise young aspiring athletes. What I want to say is for the people whom I’ve never met. It is for the boys and girls whose hands I will never hold. It is for the champions to come. These comments are for every spirit on the downside of advantage.

Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something deep inside— a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have the skill and the will.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Dying, Death
“We spend more time learning how to make a living than we do learning to make a life.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Life, Living
“Truly great people in history never wanted to be great for themselves. All they wanted was the chance to do good for others and be close to God.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: History, God
“All through my life I have been tested. My will has been tested, my courage has been tested, my strength has been tested. Now my patience and endurance are being tested. Every step of the way I believe that God has been with me. And, more than ever, I know that he is with me now. I have learned to live my life one step, one breath, and one moment at a time, but it was a long road. I set out on a journey of love, seeking truth, peace, and understanding. I am still learning.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Learning, Faith in God, Courage, Life
“My father raised us well. He made sure we were surrounded by good people, taught us to always confront the things we feared, and to try to be the best at whatever we did.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Parents, Fatherhood
“You are my opposer when I want freedom. You are my opposer when I want justice. You are my opposer when I want equality. You won't even stand up for me in America for my religious beliefs, and you want me to go somewhere and fight — but you won't even stand up for me here at home! ”
— Muhammad Ali, Debate over the Vietnam Draft
Tagged: Vietnam War, War, Debate, Race, Social Justice
“Everything that God created has a purpose. The sun has a purpose. The clouds have a purpose. Rain has a purpose. Trees have a purpose. Animals have a purpose; even the smallest insects, and fish in the sea have a purpose.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: purpose, God, Theology, Animals, Divine Purpose
“Everyone has his or her own lessons to learn and obstacles to overcome. The experiences should not be weighed against each other because they are all equally important in the end.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Life Obstacles, Overcoming, Life Lessons
“Each time I thought I had achieved my life’s purpose, I discovered it was only another step in my journey.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: One Step Foward, One Step Back, Life's Purpose
“Every man wants to believe in himself. And every man wants to be fearless. We become heroes when we stand up for what we believe in.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Hero, Courage, Believe In Yourself
“Success is not achieved by winning all the time. Real success comes when we rise after we fall. I am grateful for all my victories, but I am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Losing, Errors as Portals to Success, Real Success
“Outrun the people who quit when they feel discomfort, outrun the people who stop because of despair, outrun the people who are delayed because of prejudice, outrun the people who surrender to failure, and outrun the opponent who loses sight of the goal. Because if you want to win, the will can never retire, the race can never stop, and faith can never weaken.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Discomfort, Keep Going, Never Retire, Keep Fighting, strength
“I realized that we are only brave when we have something to lose and we still try. We can’t be brave without fear.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Bravery, Fear
“My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Immaterial Wealth, self, Love, Spirituality
“Throughout my life, I never sought retribution against those who hurt me because I believe in forgiveness. I have practiced forgiving, just as I want to be forgiven. Only God knows what’s in a person’s heart, his true intentions. He sees and hears all things.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: forgiveness, No Retribution
“Boxing was only for self gain. Just beating up a brother, or someone else's brother for money. But now I am getting more pleasure out of lecturing at a Muslim mosque. I enjoy this much better than boxing. ”
— Muhammad Ali, Interview after being sentenced to jail
Tagged: Jail, Boxing, Life, Interview, Muhammad Ali
“Love is the only thing that every soul brings to earth with it.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Love
“Love is the only thing that every soul brings to earth with it.”
— Muhammad Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Love
“Once we realize we are all members of humanity, we will want to compete in the spirit of love.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Parents, Fatherhood
“Think well of all, be patient with all, and try to find the good in all.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Be Patient, Love, Goodness In Everyone
“Every day these messages shaped the images that I and other nonwhite children had of ourselves. I didn’t know how, but I knew that I was going to help my people. Somehow, I was going to make a difference in the world. The more injustice that I saw, the stronger my feelings grew. It made me feel that I was here for a reason.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Black Lives Matter, Injustice
“Well, Black people have actually been in jail for four-hundred years here in America. But I don't worry about jail, I believe in Allah, I believe in Elijah Muhammad — as the messenger of god —and many great men have had to go to jail. So I don't pay attention to it. If the time comes, I'll have to go.”
— Muhammad Ali, Responds to the prospect of going to jail
Tagged: Vietnam War, Politics, Islam, Religion, Faith, Prison
“The greatest victory in life is to rise above the material things that we once valued most.”
— Muhammad Ali, Hana Yasmeen Ali, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
Tagged: Materialsim, 107 Of The Greatest Single Sentences In Literature, Perfect Sentences
“They've never had a Black man stand up and identify with the struggle of his people.”
— Muhammad Ali, Talking about the fall of his boxing career
Tagged: Boxing, Sports, Politics, Race
“We don't hate white people. We know white people. We know the history of white people. If a tiger broke into this room right now, I'd beat you getting out. If a rattlesnake broke in, I'd beat you getting off of this stage. I don't hate rattlesnakes, I don't hate tigers, I just know I can't get along with them. ”
— Muhammad Ali, On race
Tagged: Race, Politics, Race relations