Author and poet Maya Angelou died this morning at her home in Winston Salem, North Carolina, just a few hours from where I live. She was 86. She leaves behind a body of work that is passionate and wise. In honor of her life, I’ve put together 21 of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes:
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
“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.”
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
“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.”
“The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do 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.”
“When you know better you do better.”
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
“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.”
“Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!”
“If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?”
“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
‘You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. “
Of these quotes, I’d love to hear your favorite(s) or anything else you have to say about Maya Angelou. She was a hero of mine ever since I read her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She was a force of nature. A phenomenal woman. An amazing writer and poet. She will be missed.
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This quote is my favorite.
“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.â€
I always wanted to attend one of her readings but living in Germany made that a bit difficult. Now I’ll never have that opportunity. But her words live on and her Spirit lies without those words.
What a great loss, not just for the literary world, but for many others who learned from her and/or looked up to her.
You are so right, Linda. It is a great loss. She was–and will remain–an incredible role-model, especially for women. She was gutsy. She was brave. She was incredibly talented and she spoke her mind. She didn’t let anything stop her from telling the truth about her life and life in general. Her words live on, as you say.
I love that quote, too. Thanks for stopping by.
The world is less rich today with the passing of Maya Angelou. I love words and she was the person whose resonated most with me. I will miss her.
I will miss her, too, Mary. She was an amazing wordsmith. It’s great to hear from you again. Thanks for leaving a comment. xo
What a voice she had for women and for the world. I would’ve loved to have met her, but even without having made her acquaintance I will miss her as I would a dear, close friend. Her wisdom and words spoke of strength, power, and substance of spirit and lifted my heart many, many times just as a true friend would. We all were blessed to have had her in our midst.
Eloquently said, Susan, and so true. Thanks for putting to words what so many of us feel. xo
Thank you so much….My husband and I loved reading this list together….so much love, so much living, humility, pride, honesty…..the world is a better place for her having shared it with us. My husband asked me to thank you for putting this list together and sharing it. Love you, Diana
You’re welcome, Diana. I’m glad the list spoke to you. It seemed the least I could do for a woman who inspired me so much over the years.