Maya Angelou was a master with words.
She could make a sentence into a work of art no matter what the subject was.
Her poetry was music. Her books were inspirational.
She could do more with the English language in one day than some people did in a lifetime.
Writing, however, wasn’t the only gift this great woman had. She also acted, directed, and produced plays, movies, and TV programs. She was an educator and civil rights activist. She learned five foreign languages. She received more than 50 honorary degrees.
Maya Angelou was a genuine Renaissance woman and an inspiration to us all.
I thought I’d share some quotes by this amazing woman today. They cover a wide variety of topics including reading, music, love, forgiveness, listening, and more. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you a sampling of the vast wit and wisdom of this incredible woman.
I hope you and your children enjoy this collection of inspirational Maya Angelou quotes.
Maya Angelou Quotes
On Reading and Writing
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.
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.
On Music
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.
On Humanity
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.
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.
My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.
I’m grateful to intelligent people. That doesn’t mean educated. That doesn’t mean intellectual. I mean really intelligent. What black old people used to call ‘mother wit’ means intelligence that you had in your mother’s womb. That’s what you rely on. You know what’s right to do.
I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
On Love
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
The love of the family, the love of the person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society. A massive, powerful society.
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.
On Courage
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.
One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
On Forgiveness
You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.’
It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
On Achievement
All great achievements require time.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Nothing will work unless you do.
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.
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.
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.
Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.
On Experiences
You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
On Diversity
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.
It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
On Making a Change
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
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.
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
On Listening
Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.
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I hope you found these Maya Angelou quotes a blessing for your family. You are more than welcome to share her wit and wisdom with others using the buttons below.
Have an inspirational day.