49 Inspiring Muhammad Ali Quotes (CHAMPION)

Discover the Best

Born on 17 January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. aka Muhammad Ali was an American professional heavyweight boxing champion with a stunning 56-win record.

Muhammad Ali defended his title 19 times and was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions.

His incredible achievement includes winning the Olympic gold medalist in 1960 and became the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1964.

Ali is highly regarded as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

Furthermore, he was also a well-known social activist who took a great public stance against the Vietnam War.

Further reading:

The Outsized Life of Muhammad Ali – The New Yorker
Muhammad Ali lost everything in opposing the Vietnam War. But in 1968, he triumphed – USA Today
Muhammad Ali: 4 Ways He Changed America – Rolling Stone

Below are the best Muhammad Ali quotes on success so you can be inspired to be the champion of your own life.

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Top 14 Most Famous Muhammad Ali Quotes

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.”
Muhammad Ali

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' — I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’

I’ve made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven’t lived in vain.

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it. — If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
Muhammad Ali

Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee.

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. — He who is not **courageous** enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

Don’t count the days; make the days count.

Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.

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

It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself. — It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.

I don’t count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.

Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong. — Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.

35 Motivational Muhammad Ali Quotes to Help You Live a Fearless Life

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.”
Muhammad Ali

It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.

If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.

I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.

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

Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.

Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
Muhammad Ali

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. — 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.

It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.

I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given. I believed in myself, and I believe in the goodness of others. — I am an ordinary man who **worked hard** to develop the talent I was given. I believed in myself, and I believe in the goodness of others.

We can't be brave without fear. — We can’t be brave without **fear**.

I'm a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I'm no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won't hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat. — I’m a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I’m no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won’t hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.

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 really was the greatest.

A man who has no imagination has no wings.

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

I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own. — I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I’m in a world of my own.

My only fault is that I don’t realize how great I really am.

I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to help uplift and inspire people around the world.

There are no pleasures in a fight, but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.

It’s not bragging if you can back it up.

If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize.

I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.”
Muhammad Ali