Maya Angelou is an American author and poet. She has published six autobiographies, five books of essays, numerous books of poetry, and is credited with a long list of plays, movies, and television shows.
Born: April 4, 1928 ,St. Louis
Awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom, Quill Award for Poetry
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.
Nothing will work unless you do
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it destination full of hope
There is more to life than simply increasing its speed
There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.
I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
I do not trust people who don’t love themselves and yet tell me, ‘I love you.’ There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.
Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.
When you know better you do better.
You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.
I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.
I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.
No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?
Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.
Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.
When we find someone who is brave, fun, intelligent, and loving, we have to thank the universe.
We need much less than we think we need.
Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!
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
I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
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 something back.
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
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.
