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Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali Biography

Professional Boxer

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“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. 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.”

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Author:Muhammad Ali
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“We knew that not all white people were bad, and that there were black people who did wrong, too. Some white people wanted to help us, & in their heart meant us no harm, but how were we to know who they were? The way Elijah Muhammad put it was like this, 'What if there were 1,000 rattlesnakes outside your door, & maybe 100 of them wouldn't bite you, didn't mean you any harm, but they all looked alike? So you couldn't tell the mean ones from from the nice ones. What should you do? Should you open the door & hope that the 100 snakes that wouldn't harm you would come together & form a shield protecting you from the other 900 snakes that want to harm you? Or should you close the door & stay safe?”

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Book:The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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“Friendship is a priceless gift That cannot be bought nor sold, But its value is far greater Than a mountain made of gold. For gold is cold & lifeless - It can neither see nor hear, In time of trouble its powerless to cheer - It has no ears to listen, no heart to understand, It cannot bring you comfort Or reach out a helping hand. So when you ask God for a gift, Be thankful if he sends Not diamonds, pearls or riches But the love of real true friends”

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Author:Muhammad Ali
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“A long time ago, I took a walk down a street in Harlem in New York City. I came upon a man who asked me for a dollar. He had asked a few other people before me, but they only passed him by without glancing his way. I stopped and handed the man some money. As I began to turn away, he reached out and shook my hand. He looked me in the eyes and said, "I will bless you." Now, I'm not saying that was God Himself. But how do we know that it wasn't someone working for him, walking around in disguise, just to see what we would do?”

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Book:The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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“Over the years my religion has changed and my spirituality has evolved. Religion and spirituality are very different, but people often confuse the two. Some things cannot be taught, but they can be awakened in the heart. Spirituality is recognizing the divine light that is within us all. It doesn't belong to any particular religion; it belongs to everyone.”

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Book:The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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“I need to be famous so I can talk about religion. I can talk about God. It's an expensive price that I have to pay to be the most famous man on earth and I do it with pleasure only for God. My fight is only and introduction to the real fight, the one for God. 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.”

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Author:Muhammad Ali
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“If we continue to think and live as if we belong only to different cultures and different religions, with separate missions and goals, we will always be in self-defeating competition with each other. Once we realize we are all members of humanity, we will want to compete in the spirit of love.”

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Book:The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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“I tried to be the greatest boxer in the world and a good parent, too. I had instant feedback on my success as a boxer. Often, parents don't really know if what they are doing is right or wrong until their child is grown and it is too late to change any of the decisions. Whatever my failings as a parent, I am very proud of all my children. It wasn't easy for them to make their own way with such a controversial and public father.”

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Book:The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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