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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Ali, el campeon, el filosofo y el hombre: en el contexto de su tiempo parte y miembro de una revolucion pacifista en la historia de america.
Don’t repeat affirmations.
Pray to God asking him to train to keep and save love to God in any situations in the life.
Great ,Muhammad ali was always my fav and will remain my fav.
thanxx very much for this
Muhammad could have succeeded at many things. He is a very intelligent man, besides the hype he is very well spoken and a super athlete. I know someone who was his security agent for an event in Boston. My friend told me that Muhammad, who was with his daughter (a very lovely girl) at an event in a major Hotel and he said that The Champ was such a nice guy. He had a very nice way about him, very easy going and yet he possessed a certain intensity about him. I Don’t agree with everything about him but he is and always will be “the Champ”.
Ali’s words are inspiring yet one line somewhat hints an air arrogance – “humble people, i’ve found, don’t get very far.”
this is not true. humility is strength unseen in public.
when it comes to boxing, manny pacquiao personifies a humble person even in victory. he has achieved what ali hasn’t achieved – 8 championships belts in 8 different weight classes. beating people much larger than he is along the way. i am not arguing who is the greatest, perhaps ali is. all i’m saying is that humble people can go very far, with hardwork, perseverance and faith.
stay humble, people. stay with God.
peace.
Awesome words of motivation.
A little while ago i googled “why are butterflies such whacky fliers”? It was some kind of defence tactic they concluded, to avoid being caught by prey. Wonder if Muhammad Ali had observed them to form his technique?
muhammad, eligio esta carera sus viviencias de vida fueron fuertes , el acepto este reto, se lo que quieras ser o no seas nada , es su eleccion
What a true legend…u will live on forever Muhammad Ali
Just thank you for something so good
Olga
If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.
A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Ali is a true champion! thnks to exist Paulo!
Gostei o commentario dele que diz: “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” Genio puro.
As an (almost) pacifist (Christian Div.) I loathe and detest the brutality of boxing and yet having grown up in a rought and tumble little Texas town where I had to learn early to take care of myself, the fighter in me is strongly attracted to boxing, so I live in the paradox and tension and push and pull of the like and distaste of it. Ali was, and will always be, not only one of the great boxers but a great American Original who I’ve always admired. (“The Fighter”–a great movie, BTW.)
Only a champion like ALI can write those lines….It is really encouraging. What a simple thought but philosophical as well…Great ALI you are the Real Champ…Bib Big Salute to Muhammad Ali.
Inspiration from a champion, and an inspiration to all regardless of nationality, color or religion.
Wonderful.
Es ist der Respekt vor dem unbändigen Willen zu siegen. Das was man tun will, einfach zu tun – ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste, ganz egal was andere davon halten. Sich nicht zu kümmern um Bedenkenträger und Kleingeister, Rücksichtslos und großmäulig zu sein und sich dann zu relativieren (Ich bin der Größte – es ist nur eine Arbeit). Ali, ein Mensch der polarisiert. Man ist fazinert von dem was er getan hat oder man ist abgestoßen von diesem Extrem. Eine Scheibe von ihm, die hätt ich gerne.
Thank you Paulo for the inspiring words. Hearing M. Ali is absolutely confortable, he was and is still be the best fighter I ever heard about. Simply the best character ever.
I´m suprised. Never considered a Muhammed Ali- champion in boxing- to be a philosopher. But this is just an example of that our profession, being a dentist, champion in boxing, or a cleaninglady- is never who we really are..what´s hidden inside. Everytime we meet another person we have to listen with our inner soul to hear what she/he is saying.
With Love
Loved reading about his wisdom of life! Thanks for sharing Paulo! Have a beautiful day!
Great men are always such a great !!!
So tanks Paulo
Amazing !!!
I never though that he could say those beautiful words, so funny like ” 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. ” and so wonderful and wise like ” If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you. ”
I respect him and like him even more now :)
What a guy he is…He has entertained millions.
…wouln’t it have been nice for him not to have the disabilities he now has.
Dear Prof, The fight is won and lost far away from witnessess-behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights…!!!
I hated every moment 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…!!!
Dear Prof, this is absolutely great, and so…..intense… Anyhow, big men are fighters…….!!!!!!
Much love
Thank you for these quotes, each contains pearls of wisdom and humour – many I had not read before. Here’s a potent one I read as a teenage school student in Australia, studying the Vietnam war, the civil rights’ movement and (more my interest) American conscientious objectors to conscription or voluntary service.
When asked why he would NOT fight in Vietnam, Muhammad Ali said:
“No Vietcong ever called me nigger”
very inspiring thanks for sharing.
Ali is the greatest!! Truer words have never been spoken!! Thank you Paulo for reminding us that greatest lies within each of us — if only we could embrace it within ourselves.
Ouvi e li estas mesma palavras ora transcritas aqui. Quando a gente ouvia ele dizer qualquer coisa eu sentia a sinceridade em suas palavras.Foi um grande campeão.Obrigada Paulo pelas recordações,nunca devemos esquecer de sermos otimista em tudo que fizermos,esta é a grande lição.
Very true.Loved the pebble.I have a pebble all the time!
Ouch..hurts a lot. But the mountain is great and I forget..my short sight.I am human after all..
GRAZIE ! Paulo quando vieni in Italia??
I’ve made a song for this great man which is called : (I threw )… Thunders in Jail !
My favourite quotes are the following…
I float like a Butterfly and sting like a Bee
You’ r hands can’t hit what you’r eyes can’t see
And i wresteled with an Alligator tusseled with
A Whale handcuffed Lightning i threw Thunders in Jail!
Full of wisdom. 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.
love them all
One of the greatest African Americans of all time…. A true champion!!!!!!
These are no doubt all great lines but the one that I do not agree with at all is the one about humility and humble people.
Any champion can be arrogant and a snob but humility is the mark of a great man, a legend.
I don’t have to give examples from history about great men who were extremely humble. I hope people realize that. Being good at something or just plain famous a la the air head socialites does not give you the right to be a jerk. We have saying in India that goes ” the trees that survive the storms are the one’s that know how to be flexible and bend (be humble)instead of being stiff(haughty).
Nelson Mandela.
I totally agree with you Sherry.
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.Its sad that some people feel this way cause finally wat matters is how r u at home-”nice guy” is the winner in life!
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”
Certainly the essence of life….
what a great man, what a great champion, Germany loves you Muhammad.
sir, can there be any unselfish prayer?
I doubt that my gratitude for posting this on the site will be expressed in 2 words THANK U…..
but nonetheless thank you..
Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing your characters. It is very appreciated. :) Love you Paulo!
Is there a difference between, going to war to beat, kill and destroy for glory, power, control, money, and going to a ring to beat, kill, destroy for glory, power, control and money?.
To me It is one and the same.
This sport (if you could call it that) brings out the evil in us, just like the sport of war does.
I am not seeing any glory here, and I can’t understand the fascination of so many of you.
He was nothing but another one of us who straggling to survive in this world found his ticket out of poverty and misery.
Sorry if I am disappointing so many of you.
I very much agree with you!
reading these blogs I was surprised myself! I totally agree with you-
Some of his words are surely NOT an inspiration like:
I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
Champion? what kind of champion am I, if I suffer in the present- to be a title in the future?
Sometimes I also think that people can be filled with beautiful words though their actions might not seem that way- like the time when he was beating his wife up?
have a nice day everyone
Aw greatttttttttttttt words sop noce of you Paulo for sharing such excellent words with us :)
Great boxer also great man.Love & Respect
Each & every sentence has a deep philosophy that transformed a common man to Muhammad Ali and can transform each @every of us to a successful ………
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
great…
really great….nice one…hands up…
“Everywhere is walking distance. If you have the time.” Steven Wright
Some of these are great (e.g. pebble in one’s shoe), but some of these are playful Jest! Don’t take them too seriously. he was a ‘character’ and was ‘being’ one. Like Brian Clough. enjoy the charm…
Are you for real, No Jest reality.
agreed.
My favorites are:
“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.” :)
And:
“If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.”
It’s truly inspiring.
Thank you paulo Cohelo…Your words are ever inspiring…like bright spots…sparks in the clouds..lifting..asking me to shed all the negativity and look for life..
Es increíble, un hombre humilde, de muy abajo, un ser común a todos, inteligente por cierto…plantearse con simples estrategias y pensamientos llevados a cabo, llegar a la cumbre que se impuso, desde ya pienso, que hay escollos en la vida, pero estamos preparados para sortearlos, es aquí dónde radica nuestra habilidad, nuestra fé en nos. mismos, y con ésto quiero llegar a transmitir que absolutamente todos nosotros estamos dotados con las mismas capacidades que supo utilizar el Sr. Alí.- Sólo debemos concentrarnos en descubrirlas, destaparlas, y sin temor utilizarlas, las que nos colmarán de felicidad…
Float like a butterfly sting like a bee. Love it, but it’s the floating part that I need to work more, because of stinging… mmmm, anyways I sure know how to do that,:):) me encanta esta frase.
So very true. We are what we say we are.
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
So very. We are what we say we are.
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