Character of the week: Muhammad Ali

by Paulo Coelho on January 30, 2011


Ali by Annie Leibovitz

I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.
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.

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.

Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.

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

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

I never thought of losing, but now that it’ s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That’s my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.

I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.

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

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

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

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

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

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.


to Paulo, from Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.; January 17, 1942) is a former American boxer and three-time World Heavyweight Champion,

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{ 152 comments… read them below or add one }

Gilda April 14, 2011 at 11:14 am

Dear Paulo,thank you for sharing the life of Muhammad Ali,it was touching by many people your story…Once again thank you very much.God bless and continue your work helping others to realise not to something that their NOT.What they need is to know Christ in their lives.

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Sarah S February 15, 2011 at 11:46 pm

hello all, I’m new on here and looking forward to being a part of the discussion.

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Kellie Frazier February 14, 2011 at 10:01 pm

I found this to be one of the most beautiful pictures of Muhammad I’ve ever seen. I lived down the street from him in MI for a few years and saw his health decline. This picture shows him in better times and I am so grateful for photographers and artists who can make time stand still.

Thank you for sharing!

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agni February 13, 2011 at 5:58 pm

Tomare tus luchas, y victorias como un gran ejemplo,fuiste grande, pero aun con la aparente derrota de la vida (apariencia fisica) sigues siendo para muchos un gran campeon.

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Sefa February 12, 2011 at 5:16 pm

yeahh thnks for sharing

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Abradj February 11, 2011 at 10:50 pm

Great man greatest boxer ever, you changed the history and the sport forever

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Peter Holst February 10, 2011 at 11:12 pm

Awesome!

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suri February 10, 2011 at 2:38 pm

the greatest boxer ever

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Robert February 10, 2011 at 2:30 pm

Affirmations + Belief = Conviction!! Just add time and
“things start to happen”…hmmmm we/I can do this.
Thanks for the morning thought.

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Chiropractor Kanata February 10, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Truly inspiring! A great read to start my day! Thanks for posting Paulo!

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Semih February 9, 2011 at 1:52 pm

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

Inspired. Thanks Muhammed Ali. Thanks Mr. Coelho.

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ishita February 7, 2011 at 4:21 am

hi..
your words in the mind make my life easy to handle, move and flow. i don’t stand and wait but just take the way it comes and pass on.
thank you
love you alot

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adrivrasarkis February 6, 2011 at 4:22 pm

Muy buenoo!! El tipo tiene una idea de la vida interasante!

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lea February 6, 2011 at 2:50 pm

what does it mean about him being fast that he turned off the light switch in his hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark?

was that a joke i didnt get?or a quote?

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bacounoun December 3, 2011 at 9:35 pm

That is only a figure of speech. Just to show how fast he is par comparison.

Susheel nair February 6, 2011 at 6:51 am

Inspired. Thanks Muhammed Ali. Thanks Paulo.

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Kris February 6, 2011 at 4:30 am

I always thought Ali was the most obnoxious celebrity I’d ever seen. I saw him become world champ but his words at the time were beligerent and ego-centric. That is what has stayed w/ me about Ali and so it’s hard to read his characterization because it is contrary to what I observed growing up. But I do like Annie Leibovitz photo portrait of him.

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mauricio fonseca February 6, 2011 at 2:57 am

Dear friends, I’m sure Ali is a wonderfull man , but you are wonderfull people too, your comments are going to be very important to me tonight.

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grace February 6, 2011 at 2:54 am

float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. :)

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Malihe February 5, 2011 at 7:17 pm

Thank you Paulo.you are a true friend too,,

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jomarie lubay February 5, 2011 at 2:00 pm

a very inspiring story of mohammad ali, as a great warrior with a big heart ,, here in the philippines, we have also like ali, he is pacman as many times champion in boxing but also give inspiration to many others,,,I hope i give courage to other people on my own little way, as my rent of stay here on earth.

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dewi February 5, 2011 at 11:54 am

very inspiring mr. Paulo, thanks

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Ivy Josephine Gomez Hoh February 5, 2011 at 6:17 am

I was never a fan of boxing matches but when he entered the ring I watched and I admired the man who stung like a bee and floated like a butterfly!

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Ernst Janson February 5, 2011 at 4:06 am

Wow. And I like the reply of John Sargurudoss. Indeed, Muhammad Ali is a true champion

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Mathilde February 5, 2011 at 2:13 am

Impressed.

‘its just a job’

love this picture of him.

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

a honest, sweet, real guy with insights.

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Alfredo Sánchez Ycaza February 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Really good lessons, thanks for posting it!.

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John Sargurudoss February 4, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Dear Paulo,
I always remember Ali as a man who loved kids.Before the famous fight in 1974,he went to see a boy suffering from cancer in the hospital and told him,’I am going to beat Geroge Foreman and you are going to beat Cancer”.He took a photo along with a boy and after hearing that his condtion was bad,Ali rushed back to him again and told him to beat Cancer.The boy replied,’No Ali,I am going to meet God,and tell him You are my friend”.
After winning the fight Ali was informed that the boy died.As he could not go for the boy’s funeral he sent his secretary to attend.When he came back from the funeral the secretary informed that the boy kept the signed photo of Ali closer to his chest in the casket.

Indeed a great man.A real friend in need.

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Nico Patino February 4, 2011 at 3:56 pm

I feel inspired reading some quotes from Muhammad Ali… a boxing match exists in the ring yet the fight of life is continuous. every defeat is a lesson learned and every win is a glorious recognition and appreciation…

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Elly February 4, 2011 at 1:55 pm

As always. Beautiful!

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racquel February 4, 2011 at 12:48 pm

don’t quit is a phrase i really needed today or perhaps everyday coz of the everyday tiring work i’m doing…i work really hard in my job and i get exhausted all the way from physical, emotional to intellectual. i say intellectual because actually i’m not learning what i’m supposed to be learn,my brain is rusty,i needed a good teacher and they’re not even half of my teachers in college.anyway..mostly it’s physical exhaustion then comes emotional…after this all day’s work, u even get paid an amount not deserving to the sweat and tears u’ve given…i’m giving more than what they are taking from me…MY point is, thanks Paulo for the lines, simple but powerful as they work on people like us….

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Sushant Joshi February 4, 2011 at 6:24 pm

Very nice racquel… always keep the light of hope on…

ally February 4, 2011 at 11:53 am

Ali is a warrior indeed. A content warrior.

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toy February 4, 2011 at 8:38 am

much respect to a great life observer, a realist and a dreamer!
thanks for the inspiration and the support!

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Helen Cuevas February 4, 2011 at 7:40 am

I know Ali only as a boxing champion and his “I am the Greatest” line. I didn’t know till now, that he can write those lines. Wise man indeed!

Thanks Paulo for sharing.

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Leslie V P aul February 4, 2011 at 7:20 am

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

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mahtaab February 4, 2011 at 7:15 am

thank you paulo….it is very nice and ture about
friendship ,job ,feel and other subject
thank you muhammad ali

Reply

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