Muhammad Ali visited Bob Marley on his deathbed — Bob’s final words to the champion changed everything.

Bob’s smile grew slightly.

—I didn’t teach you anything. You are Muhammad Ali. The greatest.

“The greatest boxer, perhaps,” Ali said. “But you, you were the greatest warrior. You fought with music, you fought with words, you fought with your whole spirit, and you never backed down.”

Bob’s breathing was labored. Every word required effort.

—Neither did you, champ. You gave up everything. Your title, your freedom, your best years, because you wouldn’t fight in Vietnam. Because you stood up for what you believed in.

Ali nodded.

It took me three and a half years. They took away my belt, they took away my license, they took away my ability to earn money, but I couldn’t fight in a war I didn’t believe in. I couldn’t kill people who never called me the N-word

“I know,” Bob said. “That’s why you changed my life.”

Ali looked surprised.

“I changed your life, brother. You’re the one who changed the world. Your music reached billions. You took reggae to every country. You united people across every divide.”