Key quotes from Ali memorial service

The following are a selection of key quotes from Friday's public memorial service honoring boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died last week at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease:

Soldier for humanity

"Besides being a lot of fun to be around and basically a universal soldier for our common humanity, I will always think of Muhammad as a truly free man of faith."

-- former US president Bill Clinton

Man for the ages

"The greatness of this man for the ages was that he was, in fact, a man for all ages.... He fought not just the biggest and baddest inside the ropes but, outside, went toe-to-toe with critics."

-- sports journalist Bryant Gumbel

Sports journalist, Bryant Gumbel - AFP Photo

Rule-breaker

"If Muhammad did not like the rules, he would rewrite them. His religion, his name, his beliefs, were his to fashion, no matter what the cost."

-- Ali's wife Lonnie

READ: Emotional farewell to Muhammad Ali in Louisville

Face of America

"Muhammad Ali was America. Muhammad Ali will always be America."

-- Senior presidential aide Valerie Jarrett, reading a tribute from President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle

Daring

"He dared to love black people at a time when black people had a problem loving themselves."

-- Senior Pastor Kevin Cosby, St Stephen's Baptist Church

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Swagger

"He had charm and charisma and swagger, before we knew what that was."

-- Long-time friend John Ramsey

Ali's long-time friend, John Ramsey. - AFP Photo

Heart of Louisville

"Muhammad Ali was the heart of this city -- the living, breathing embodiment of the greatest that we can be."

-- Rabbi Joe Rapport

Friend of Malcolm X

"Having Muhammad Ali in my life somehow sustained my dad's breath for me just a little while longer -- 51 years longer until now."

-- Attallah Shabazz, daughter of slain Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X

Conscientious objector

"At the key moment when he had that recognition, he used it to stand up to an immoral war and say, 'No, I won't go'."

-- Rabbi Michael Lerner, speaking about Ali's refusal to serve in Vietnam

Laughs

"I was clean-shaven when this started."

Crystal called Ali

-- Comedian Billy Crystal, sporting a full beard, joking about length of the service