Maya Angelou, an iconic figure in American literature and civil rights activism, left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and challenge the world. Born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passing away on May 28, 2014, Angelou’s contributions transcended the boundaries of arts and activism, marking her as one of the most influential voices of her generation. Her extensive body of work, which includes poetry, memoirs, and essays, reflects a deep understanding of the human condition and a steadfast commitment to justice and equality. This collection of 100 best quotes of Maya Angelou is curated to illuminate her insights into personal growth, societal values, and the power of empathy and understanding.
Maya Angelou Quotes on Personal Virtues and Growth
Maya Angelou’s eloquence in capturing the essence of personal development and virtue is unmatched. Her words serve as a beacon for those seeking to navigate the complexities of self-improvement and societal contribution. Here, we delve into quotes that reflect on character, education, knowledge, and other pillars of personal growth.
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Character
“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.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
“We need much less than we think we need.”
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Character
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Education
“When you know better, you do better.”
“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.”
“Education helps one case cease being intimidated by strange situations.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Education “The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
“Right may not be expedient, it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul.”
“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Ethics “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Morality
“I’ve learned that forgiving is one of the greatest gifts I can give myself.”
“I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.”
“Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential.”
“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Courage
“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.”
“Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.”
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Hard Work
“Nothing will work unless you do.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive.”
“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 Quotes on Hard Work
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Excellence
“Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.”
“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 you.”
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
“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.”
“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Interpersonal Relations and Inner Life
Maya Angelou’s insights into human relationships and the inner workings of the soul offer profound lessons on empathy, love, and connection. Her words guide us through the intricacies of relating to others and understanding our own depths.
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Love
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
“In the flush of love’s light, we dare be brave. And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet, it is only love which sets us free.”
“If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.”
“I know for sure that loves saves me and that it is here to save us all.”
“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Love
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Happiness
“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”
“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.”
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”
“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.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Soul
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
“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.”
“My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”
“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Soul
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Empathy
- “I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.”
- “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
- “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.”
- “We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.”
- “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Trust
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.”
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
“You can’t trust everyone, but you can trust some. And those some, you trust with your heart.”
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.”
“Without trust, words become the hollow sound of a wooden gong. With trust, words become life itself.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Societal Values and Governance
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Society
“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.”
“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
“I know for sure that loves saves me and that it is here to save us all.”
“If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Justice
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
“Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Democracy
“We need to remember that we are all created creative and can invent new scenarios as frequently as they are needed.”
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
“Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Democracy
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Constitution
- “I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”
- “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential.”
- “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
- “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
- “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Leadership
“A leader sees greatness in other people. You can’t be much of a leader if all you see is yourself.”
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.”
“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.”
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
5 Best Maya Angelou Quotes on Politics
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Politics
Final Words on Maya Angelou Quotes
In exploring the 100 best quotes of Maya Angelou, we traverse a journey through the corridors of personal virtue, navigate the complex dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and confront the societal challenges that call for wisdom, courage, and leadership. Maya Angelou’s words are not just quotes; they are life lessons, a testament to a life lived with purpose, passion, and perseverance. Her legacy endures through her insightful, uplifting, and timeless words that continue to inspire and empower generations.
