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News

'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee': The greatest quotes of Muhammad Ali

by Kyle Harvey | January 17, 2012 at 4:26 PM
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“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 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 figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.”

“I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.”

“I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ‘em out, I pick the round.”

“I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ‘em out, I pick the round.”

“I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.”

“I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.”

“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”

“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”

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

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

“My toughest fight was with my first wife.”

“My toughest fight was with my first wife.”

“Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.”

“Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.”

“Superman don’t need no seat belt.”

“Superman don’t need no seat belt.”

“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.”

“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.”

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While Muhammad Ali’s contributions to the worlds of boxing and politics are legendary, Ali’s skills behind the microphone were unparalleled. No could sell a fight better than Ali. His words weren’t just limited to trash talking, he also deployed comic skills during interviews. TheGrio has picked out our favorite quotes from the greatest in honor of his 70th birthday. Check them out and see if your favorite lines made the cut.

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Filed in: News, Slideshow, Sports, Top Stories | Related Topics: Ali, Birthday, Boxer, Boxing, Champion, Muhammad Ali, Quotes, Trash Talk
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