Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil
rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays,
several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and
television shows spanning over 50 years.
Here Is A Selection Of Some Of Maya Angelou Most Famous Quotes.
Inspirational And Motivating Sayings From Maya Angelou.
The best Maya Angelou Quotes
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.―Maya Angelou
When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.―Maya Angelou
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.―Maya Angelou
I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.―Maya Angelou
You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.―Maya Angelou
What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain.―Maya Angelou
A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.―Maya Angelou
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.―Maya Angelou
The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.―Maya Angelou
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.―Maya Angelou
Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!―Maya Angelou
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.―Maya Angelou
If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?―Maya Angelou
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.―Maya Angelou
Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.―Maya Angelou
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.―Maya Angelou
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.―Maya Angelou
I don't trust people who don't love themselves and tell me, 'I love you.' ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.―Maya Angelou
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.―Maya Angelou
Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.―Maya Angelou
No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.―Maya Angelou
I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.―Maya Angelou
Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.―Maya Angelou
Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.―Maya Angelou
You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!―Maya Angelou
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.―Maya Angelou
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.―Maya Angelou
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.―Maya Angelou
My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.―Maya Angelou
Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.―Maya Angelou
The most famous quotes by Maya Angelou
You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.―Maya Angelou
If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.―Maya Angelou
Most people don't grow up. Most people age. They find parking spaces, honor their credit cards, get married, have children, and call that maturity. What that is, is aging.―Maya Angelou
If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform a million realities.―Maya Angelou
First best is falling in love. Second best is being in love. Least best is falling out of love. But any of it is better than never having been in love.―Maya Angelou
Success is loving life and daring to live it.―Maya Angelou
I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.―Maya Angelou
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.―Maya Angelou
No one can take the place of a friend, no one.―Maya Angelou
Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.―Maya Angelou
Talent is like electricity. We don't understand electricity. We use it.―Maya Angelou
The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story.―Maya Angelou
To those who are given much, much is expected.―Maya Angelou
There's a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure truth.―Maya Angelou
Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.―Maya Angelou
The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.―Maya Angelou
The human heart...tells us that we are more alike than we are unalike.―Maya Angelou
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.―Maya Angelou
While one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated.―Maya Angelou
It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.―Maya Angelou
There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.―Maya Angelou
Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.―Maya Angelou
My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'.―Maya Angelou
I believe most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise.―Maya Angelou
Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.―Maya Angelou
Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous. It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood.―Maya Angelou
I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.―Maya Angelou
Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.―Maya Angelou
Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.―Maya Angelou
When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness... all the good things.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.―Maya Angelou
Love life. Engage in it. Give it all you've got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.―Maya Angelou
When you learn, teach, when you get, give.―Maya Angelou
Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.―Maya Angelou
All great achievements require time.―Maya Angelou
A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face.―Maya Angelou
Nothing will work unless you do.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.―Maya Angelou
To those who have given up on love: I say, "Trust life a little bit".―Maya Angelou
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.―Maya Angelou
I want to thank you, Lord, for life and all that's in it. Thank you for the day and for the hour, and the minute.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.―Maya Angelou
Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.―Maya Angelou
We need much less than we think we need.―Maya Angelou
In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.―Maya Angelou
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.―Maya Angelou
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.―Maya Angelou
Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.―Maya Angelou
If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.―Maya Angelou
Be present in all things and thankful for all things.―Maya Angelou
Anything that works against you can also work for you once you understand the Principle of Reverse.―Maya Angelou
Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.―Maya Angelou
There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.―Maya Angelou
I sustain myself with the love of family.―Maya Angelou
Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.―Maya Angelou
When we find someone who is brave, fun, intelligent, and loving, we have to thank the universe.―Maya Angelou
Some people cannot see a good thing when it is right here, right now. Others can sense a good thing coming when it is days, months, or miles away.―Maya Angelou
The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.―Maya Angelou
Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings and assurance that the world owes you nothing and that every gift is exactly that, a gift.―Maya Angelou
While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation.―Maya Angelou
Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.―Maya Angelou
A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally.―Maya Angelou
We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.―Maya Angelou
Inspirational Quotes by Maya Angelou
- There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ―Maya Angelou
- All great achievements require time. ―Maya Angelou
- I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. ―Maya Angelou
- Nothing will work unless you do. ―Maya Angelou
- What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain. ―Maya Angelou
- I want to thank you, Lord, for life and all that's in it. Thank you for the day and for the hour, and the minute. ―Maya Angelou
- You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. ―Maya Angelou
- Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings and assurance that the world owes you nothing and that every gift is exactly that, a gift. ―Maya Angelou
- I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better. ―Maya Angelou
- Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait. ―Maya Angelou
- A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her. ―Maya Angelou
- To those who are given much, much is expected. ―Maya Angelou
- The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise. ―Maya Angelou
- Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution. ―Maya Angelou
- Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it! ―Maya Angelou
- Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman. ―Maya Angelou
- No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. ―Maya Angelou
- Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. ―Maya Angelou