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Thread: Muhammad Ali's 10 best quotes

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    Muhammad Ali's 10 best quotes

    Muhammad Ali was as skilled with words as he was in the ring. His poignant sayings about sports and life figure to remain iconic for generations to come alongside the lore of his historic fights.

    Today, in memory of the man who not only was the greatest but who also made sure to tell you he was, we rank his greatest quips.

    10.

    "I don't count the sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they're the only ones that count. That's what makes you a champion."

    Why we love it: Numbers aren't absolute. People have different bodies, are at different levels of training, have different pain thresholds. But, like many of Ali's sayings, the idea he is expressing makes a lot of sense, even when dismissing what the rest of the world sees as a benchmark.

    9.

    "Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer."


    Why we love it: Although it's hard to think of many times when Ali was actually silent, a phrase like this has more impact coming from a guy who seemingly had a comeback for everything than it does from a person who is naturally quiet.

    8.

    "I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world."


    Why we love it: For much of Ali's career, he filled the air with the idea that the people around him didn't make him -- that he made himself. But that doesn't mean Ali didn't recognize how much people cared for him. He says as much here, relating to the age-old "athlete as a role model" dynamic and wishing people felt the same way about those around them.

    7.

    "It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you down. It's the pebble in your shoe."


    Why we love it:
    People tend to be fixated on the large problems or goals in life. What Ali brilliantly suggests here is that everyday goals and challenges that affects people most, not the big-picture obstacles easiest to focus on.

    6.

    "The will must be stronger than the skill."


    Why we love it: Ali was undoubtedly an incredible athlete who was uniquely talented. But it's also undeniable that no one believed in Ali more than he did himself. Seemingly willing himself to some victories, Ali owes part of record to his self-confidence -- beyond just his ability to move and punch.

    5.

    "Don't count the days. Make the days count."


    Why we love it: Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis was not only his loss, but it also robbed us of one of the world's most colorful characters. It's hard to know how Ali was feeling in his final years, but it was clear that he didn't mind attending events and making appearances despite his condition. If those days didn't count for him, they certainly counted for those who will never forget the day they were graced with his presence.

    4.

    "The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."


    Why we love it: Ali was the ultimate showman. No one, even to this day, could captivate a crowd and fill the air with as much life as Ali did. So despite the show and his ability to perform when all are watching, it's a revelation that he so valued time spent working behind the scenes.

    3.

    "I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was. I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I was really the greatest."


    Why we love it: Successful people often need to have the confidence that will be successful. Although this much seems obvious, such confidence and swagger is often disdained. That being said, Ali's assuredness here makes a lot of sense. Ultimate self-confidence is the first step to realizing a dream.

    2.

    "Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. You can't hit what your eyes don't see."


    Why we love it:
    Ali's most famous quote deserves all the love it gets. He beautifully juxtaposed the rhythmic butterfly and dangerous bee to concisely capture his fighting style. The saying makes so much sense when watching Ali box. The big man danced around the ring with shocking grace, waiting for the right time for a stinging punch.

    1.

    "Impossible is just a 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 potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."


    Why we love it:
    This quote often is truncated to the last part "Impossible is nothing." But the rest means so much more. While many will immediately deem a goal impossible, for the right type of person, that doubt leads to untold motivation.

    http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...10-best-quotes

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    In his day he was a skilled boxer and maybe the best ever. It is hard to know who is the best, but Joe Louis was another great one. When he first gained publicity, I did not like him because he was always bragging. However, I soon found that he could back it up with win after win. I did not like his religion, however.


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    A male FB friend of mine had this to say about Ali. I agree and couldn't have said it better.

    "Ali wasn't a Christian. OK, now here's the so what... SO WHAT!! His time of reckoning is @ hand and he will stand before the Judge and be found guilty. It won't be pretty. Glad that's settled. Now to the stuff I liked about him.

    He was one of the most, (if not THE most) influential sports figure in the world. He was an icon for young black kids to look up to because he spoke his mind right to the cameras and no one did a thing to him. As kids,(watching his old clips) we loved that. He made people cringe, he made people hate him with his jokes and he made people love him with his rymes. Say what ya want about him, blacks would not be this far in movies, television, radio broadcasting or sports had it not been for this one man, who stirred up so much excitement, curiosity and hate.

    Though he was a loud-mouthed, egotistical, conceded and outright racist... Ali was loved even by his adversaries, like Howard Cosell and through that very open relationship, allowed many more opportunities for blacks to get into media world. Only a very unique person can do what he did (especially during those Civil Rights days) and it made EVERYBODY prosper because of it.

    A saint, he was not... I'm just givin the man props for inspiring me to feel confident in my own skin. Bruce Lee would be yet another. Peace"
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    To a Norwegian who isnt interested in boxing, Muhammad Ali was old news already when I was a teenager in the late eighties. Everyone knew that Mike Tyson would have knocked him out in seconds and we didnt feel sentimental about it. We tried to forget about the Muslim stuff, that was sort of a bit too crazy to take seriously.

    Just my eighties perspective, that's all.

  8. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    To a Norwegian who isnt interested in boxing.....Everyone knew that Mike Tyson would have knocked him out in seconds...
    From what I've been reading most place the odds in Ali's favor...an example:

    ...The one thing Tyson did lack was mental strength and this was where Ali was at his strongest. Tyson beat some good fighters in his day, Larry Holmes, Razor Ruddock, Frank Bruno and Tyrell Biggs but no great prime fighters. Tyson lost to Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield twice, Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams and Kevin Mcbride.

    Ali would beat Tyson. Ali beat better fighters than Tyson and lost to better fighters than Tyson. Ali was mentally stronger than Tyson and NEVER crumbled under pressure. Ali was taller, faster, had more stamina, had better ring smarts, had more heart and courage, could take a better shot and had better footwork than Tyson. All Tyson had over Ali was power.

    I think the fight would go a little like this, Ali would win the first rounds through dancing and speed, Tyson would come on strong in rounds 4-7 but then would slowly tire, Ali would come on very strong in rounds 8-12 and would psych out Tyson making him frustrated which would make him walk into shots. Ali would win by 13th round TKO at the latest when Tyson got frustrated and began throwing wild punched and missing by miles.

    http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/10/...ld-beat-tyson/

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    Quote Originally Posted by krystian View Post
    From what I've been reading most place the odds in Ali's favor...an example:

    ...The one thing Tyson did lack was mental strength and this was where Ali was at his strongest. Tyson beat some good fighters in his day, Larry Holmes, Razor Ruddock, Frank Bruno and Tyrell Biggs but no great prime fighters. Tyson lost to Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield twice, Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams and Kevin Mcbride.

    Ali would beat Tyson. Ali beat better fighters than Tyson and lost to better fighters than Tyson. Ali was mentally stronger than Tyson and NEVER crumbled under pressure. Ali was taller, faster, had more stamina, had better ring smarts, had more heart and courage, could take a better shot and had better footwork than Tyson. All Tyson had over Ali was power.

    I think the fight would go a little like this, Ali would win the first rounds through dancing and speed, Tyson would come on strong in rounds 4-7 but then would slowly tire, Ali would come on very strong in rounds 8-12 and would psych out Tyson making him frustrated which would make him walk into shots. Ali would win by 13th round TKO at the latest when Tyson got frustrated and began throwing wild punched and missing by miles.

    http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/10/...ld-beat-tyson/
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
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    He looks physically weak compared to modern boxers. Tyson was probably chock full of anabolic steroids and Ali was not. I think it would have been mostly "float like a butterfly" and nothing much more. The heroes of yesteryear tend to grow on people's minds.

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    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    Cool

    Those are wonderful Fuego! Another quote I like: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

    Now, how about those comical descriptives he used to describe his opponent?

    One of my favorites, I believe he used in describing either Leon Spinks or the late Joe Frazier:

    "He so ugly, when he cries, his tears run back in his eyes."

    Another one: "If you even dream of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologize!"

    "I'm so mean, I make medicine sick."

    "I've wrestled with alligators, I've tussled with a whale, I done handcuffed lightning, and thrown thunder in jail!"

    Referring to Sonny Liston: "He too ugly to be world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me."

    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    Muhammad Ali was as skilled with words as he was in the ring. His poignant sayings about sports and life figure to remain iconic for generations to come alongside the lore of his historic fights.

    Today, in memory of the man who not only was the greatest but who also made sure to tell you he was, we rank his greatest quips.

    10.

    "I don't count the sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they're the only ones that count. That's what makes you a champion."

    Why we love it: Numbers aren't absolute. People have different bodies, are at different levels of training, have different pain thresholds. But, like many of Ali's sayings, the idea he is expressing makes a lot of sense, even when dismissing what the rest of the world sees as a benchmark.

    9.

    "Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer."


    Why we love it: Although it's hard to think of many times when Ali was actually silent, a phrase like this has more impact coming from a guy who seemingly had a comeback for everything than it does from a person who is naturally quiet.

    8.

    "I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world."


    Why we love it: For much of Ali's career, he filled the air with the idea that the people around him didn't make him -- that he made himself. But that doesn't mean Ali didn't recognize how much people cared for him. He says as much here, relating to the age-old "athlete as a role model" dynamic and wishing people felt the same way about those around them.

    7.

    "It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you down. It's the pebble in your shoe."


    Why we love it:
    People tend to be fixated on the large problems or goals in life. What Ali brilliantly suggests here is that everyday goals and challenges that affects people most, not the big-picture obstacles easiest to focus on.

    6.

    "The will must be stronger than the skill."


    Why we love it: Ali was undoubtedly an incredible athlete who was uniquely talented. But it's also undeniable that no one believed in Ali more than he did himself. Seemingly willing himself to some victories, Ali owes part of record to his self-confidence -- beyond just his ability to move and punch.

    5.

    "Don't count the days. Make the days count."


    Why we love it: Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis was not only his loss, but it also robbed us of one of the world's most colorful characters. It's hard to know how Ali was feeling in his final years, but it was clear that he didn't mind attending events and making appearances despite his condition. If those days didn't count for him, they certainly counted for those who will never forget the day they were graced with his presence.

    4.

    "The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."


    Why we love it: Ali was the ultimate showman. No one, even to this day, could captivate a crowd and fill the air with as much life as Ali did. So despite the show and his ability to perform when all are watching, it's a revelation that he so valued time spent working behind the scenes.

    3.

    "I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was. I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I was really the greatest."


    Why we love it: Successful people often need to have the confidence that will be successful. Although this much seems obvious, such confidence and swagger is often disdained. That being said, Ali's assuredness here makes a lot of sense. Ultimate self-confidence is the first step to realizing a dream.

    2.

    "Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. You can't hit what your eyes don't see."


    Why we love it:
    Ali's most famous quote deserves all the love it gets. He beautifully juxtaposed the rhythmic butterfly and dangerous bee to concisely capture his fighting style. The saying makes so much sense when watching Ali box. The big man danced around the ring with shocking grace, waiting for the right time for a stinging punch.

    1.

    "Impossible is just a 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 potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."


    Why we love it:
    This quote often is truncated to the last part "Impossible is nothing." But the rest means so much more. While many will immediately deem a goal impossible, for the right type of person, that doubt leads to untold motivation.

    http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...10-best-quotes
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
    https://www.facebook.com/Valiant-Wom...1103844642026/

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    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    In the words of Franklin Graham...

    "Two champions had their last meeting in Louisville, KY, in June, 2001. My father Billy Graham was there to preach and Muhammad Ali was in town for another engagement and they were staying at the Grand Hotel in downtown Louisville. My father was a champion for the souls of men and Muhammad Ali was a champion of the boxing ring. This wasn’t the first time the two had gotten together.

    They first met when Ali came to my parents’ NC home in 1979. After that meeting he said, “I’ve always admired Mr. Graham, I’m a Muslim and he’s a Christian, but there is so much truth in the message he gives, Americanism, repentance, things about government and country–and truth.

    I always said if I was a Christian, I’d want to be a Christian like him.” Ali said, “he leads people to God. I look up to him.”

    My father always hoped Ali would give his life to Christ. I’ve wondered if he put his faith and trust in Christ before he slipped into eternity. I sure hope so. Islam’s Muhammad can’t save you, only Jesus Christ can save."
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
    https://www.facebook.com/Valiant-Wom...1103844642026/

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    Those are wonderful Fuego! Another quote I like: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

    Now, how about those comical descriptives he used to describe his opponent?

    One of my favorites, I believe he used in describing either Leon Spinks or the late Joe Frazier:

    "He so ugly, when he cries, his tears run back in his eyes."

    Another one: "If you even dream of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologize!"

    "I'm so mean, I make medicine sick."

    "I've wrestled with alligators, I've tussled with a whale, I done handcuffed lightning, and thrown thunder in jail!"

    Referring to Sonny Liston: "He too ugly to be world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me."
    He definitely had a funny wit. :)

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