When We Were Kings (1996)

George Plimpton: Self - Writer

Quotes 

• Don King : I heard a speech by Jesse Jackson. You know, he was sayin' that we must recognize that we are only useful as long as we're necessary.

  Self - Writer : As long as you're necessary.

  Don King : So, when we become unnecessary, we are no longer useful. So, they don't realize that your strength comes from your community.

  Self - Writer : And you have to deal from your strength.

  Don King : You have to deal from your strength; because, if you're dealin' from your strength, you got somebody. So, if somebody grabs James Brown and want to hurt James Brown, somebody gonna raise their voice and say, why are you botherin' my brother James Brown. Because, he got some soldiers around. He's got somebody that's concerned, that cares about him. But, when you're dealing as an individual, no matter how big you get, as a black individual, you're still a nigger. You don't care how much money you get, you are still a nigger. And when you start that by yourself, you are all alone. When you become unnecessary.

• Self - Writer : He was born to fight, born for the ring and loved it. He truly loved fighting. And as happens to people who love a thing too much, it destroys them. I think it was Oscar Wilde that said you destroy the thing that you love. It's the other way around, what you love destroys you.