People don't realize what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy, there was no one like him, the Beatles, and my man Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing.

Terrorists are not following Islam. Killing people and blowing up people and dropping bombs in places and all this is not the way to spread the word of Islam. So people realize now that all Muslims are not terrorists.

Ever since I first came here in 1963 to fight Henry Cooper, I have loved the people of England.

White people just don't want their slaves to be free. That's the whole thing.

When people are forced to interact to survive, their prejudices diminish.

I do a lot of reading, a lot of studying. I ask questions, I'll go out, travel these countries, I'll watch how their people live, and I learn.

There are billions of people in the world, and every one of them is special. No one else in the world is like you.

We are all God's people. We are prejudiced and we separate into Jews, Mexicans, Italians, but God doesn't see colors.

I try not to speak about all the charities and people I help, because I believe we can only be truly generous when we expect nothing in return.

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

I love my people and I don't hate nobody and it keeps me out of trouble.

Life is like a ship. There's people dancing on a ship.There's a lot of money on the ship, but I cannot integrate on the ship or get equality on the ship.And I never could. I'm just in the galley working and I never could get up to see the captain of the ship.

Who would thought only of themselves and kill their race? You would hate other people if you don't want to stay who you are.

You got black people in an all-white country and they don't know nothing about themselves.

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

People sold everything - their cars, their land for miles, to come in and see me beat. I went to the bank laughing every time.

How come the Chinese can go where I can't go in America? Englishmen can come and set up a business in white America and do things I can't do.The Puerto Rican, Hawaiians, just about everybody can do more than black people and are more respected.

I have more fans and more followers and more supporters. Because the people who actually saw the Joe Frazier Muhammad Ali fight, they saw me win at least nine rounds - the people who know boxing.

It's impossible for 30 million black people to be violent against 170 million - we need a mental revolution, unity in coming together, and not physical.

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.

God works through people. It’s not me.

I'm the greatest fighter in the entire world, how can I be afraid? I love people and people love me.

The word had spread and people were piling around us. But then very suddenly, Sonny Liston froze me with that look of his. He said real quiet, 'Let's go on over here.' And he led the way to a table and the people hung back. I ain't going to lie. This was the only time since I have known Sonny Liston that he really scared me.

I do need publicity but not for what I do for good. I need publicity for my book. I need publicity for my fights. I need publicity for my movie but not for helping people. Then it is no longer sincere.

To the people that have said I'm too small, I'm not fast enough, I don't have what it takes, I'm not strong enough. THANK YOU

People will know you’re serious when you produce.

What’s my greatest weakness? Sad stories, people with problems

There's nothing stressful about turning 50 except people reminding you about it.

Some people have special resources inside, and when God blesses you to have more than others, you have a responsibility to use it right

The world badly needs more peaceful and loving men like Sri Chinmoy. I am a Muslim and he is serving all people of peace. Sri Chinmoy is doing so much for the world, for people of all faiths, because of his own peace and faith.

Islam is against killing, terrorism, and murder. People who commit these acts in the name of Islam are wrong. And if I had a chance I would do something about it.

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.

There's a reason I'm known - to bring people to Allah, to God.

Islam is against killing, terrorism, and murder. People who commit these acts in the name of Islam are wrong. And if I had a chance I would do something about it.

This relationship will help guarantee that, for generations to come, people of all nations will understand my beliefs and my purpose

Nobody has to tell me that this is a serious business. I'm not fighting one man. I'm fighting a lot of men, showing a lot of 'em, here is one man they couldn't defeat, couldn't conquer. My mission is to bring freedom to 30m black people

People don't realise what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy - nobody like him. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley - I was the Elvis of boxing.

Fighting by itself doesn't interest me anymore. I want to help people, the black people and I need any kind of media to spread my thought: God, charity, peace.

It's the lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.

Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.

The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years

I believe in the holy Koran. It says we declare ourselves to be righteous Muslims and do not take part in wars, or in no way fashion or form take the lives of humans unless it's a holy war declared by God himself.

They say actually every time I enter the ring, in a way, I`m going to the war. They say to me daily, you are a prized fighter, what`s the difference? And I like to say to those critics of the press and the others that there is one hell of a lot of difference in fighting in a ring and going to war in Vietnam.

A lot of wars are fought between black and whites daily in America.But if it's something I want to be with, the people who started it were black, I wouldn't not get in it.

The same people that are with me for not going to Vietnam because I saved them and their children.The same people will give me hell if I turn to them and say, 'let's free my people now'.They're with me on one part of my beliefs about the war, that's all. Not for my freedom.

The one thing I don't understand is war

Will be a divine fight, a holy war...Armageddon on a miniature scale.

Who is the descendant of the slavemasters a descendant of slaves to fight other people in thier own country?

If America were in a just war I'd volunteer for the front line. I'd do the shuffling and win the war.

War on nations changes maps. War on poverty maps change.