Muhammad Ali passed away today at the young age of 74. You can read his official obituary here.
I wrote an article back in 2012 on a bit of the family history of Muhammad Ali. There might be a remote chance that somewhere down the line twice removed and add a cousin or two, I might actually be related to Muhammad Ali. You can read about it here.
I admit that I like professional fighting, Boxing, UFC and mixed martial arts. I’m not sure why I like it, considering most things about it are brutal and in a lot of cases absolutely gruesome. But just like a virtual face punch can keep you on the right track. Sometimes seeing these fighters -in real life- pouring their hearts into their fighting, perfecting their craft, can be just as motivating to help keep the #Fight alive in your own heart.
For you reading pleasure (and those too lazy to Google), I have compiled a list of a few of Muhammad Ali’s best quotes over the years, in no particular order. RIP Muhammad. You have inspired people with your strength, your wit and your beautiful poetry.
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
“If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize.”
“Braggin’ is when a person says something and can’t do it. I do what I say.”
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see. Now you see me, now you don’t. George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
“I’m young; I’m handsome; I’m fast. I can’t possibly be beat.”
“Don’t count the days; make the days count.”
“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”
“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”
“I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
“A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”
“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.”
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
“At home I am a nice guy: but I don’t want the world to know. Humble people, I’ve found, don’t get very far.”
“A man who has no imagination has no wings.”
“He’s (Sonny Liston) too ugly to be the world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me!”
“I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I’m in a world of my own.”
“I’ve wrestled with alligators. I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning. And throw thunder in jail.”
“Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.”
“It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”
“I’m not the greatest, I’m the double greatest.”
“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”