No one, even to this day, could captivate a crowd and fill the air with as much life as Ali did. Why we love it: Ali was the ultimate showman. "The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." If those days didn't count for him, they certainly counted for those who will never forget the day they were graced with his presence. It's hard to know how Ali was feeling in his final years, but it was clear that he didn't mind attending events and making appearances despite his condition. Why we love it: Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis was not only his loss, but it also robbed us of one of the world's most colorful characters. Seemingly willing himself to some victories, Ali owes part of record to his self-confidence - beyond just his ability to move and punch. But it's also undeniable that no one believed in Ali more than he did himself. Why we love it: Ali was undoubtedly an incredible athlete who was uniquely talented. "The will must be stronger than the skill." What Ali brilliantly suggests here is that everyday goals and challenges that affects people most, not the big-picture obstacles easiest to focus on. Why we love it: People tend to be fixated on the large problems or goals in life. "It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you down. He says as much here, relating to the age-old "athlete as a role model" dynamic and wishing people felt the same way about those around them. But that doesn't mean Ali didn't recognize how much people cared for him. Why we love it: For much of Ali's career, he filled the air with the idea that the people around him didn't make him - that he made himself. "I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. Why we love it: Although it's hard to think of many times when Ali was actually silent, a phrase like this has more impact coming from a guy who seemingly had a comeback for everything than it does from a person who is naturally quiet. "Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer." But, like many of Ali's sayings, the idea he is expressing makes a lot of sense, even when dismissing what the rest of the world sees as a benchmark. People have different bodies, are at different levels of training, have different pain thresholds. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they're the only ones that count. Today, in memory of the man who not only was the greatest but who also made sure to tell you he was, we rank his greatest quips. His poignant sayings about sports and life figure to remain iconic for generations to come alongside the lore of his historic fights. Muhammad Ali was as skilled with words as he was in the ring.
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