100+ Maya Angelou Quotes That Will Change the Way You Think
Maya Angelou was a poet, writer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist whose words inspired millions of people around the world. Maya Angelou Quotes still inspire readers and give them hope, strength, and guidance.
Angelou faced many hardships during her childhood. After her parents separated, she and her brother Bailey were sent to live with their grandmother. Her life story, filled with struggles, growing up in the South, she experienced racism and difficult times that made her writing more meaningful.
Maya Angelou used her voice to speak against racism and fight for civil rights for Black people. Universities around the world honored her with more than 50 honorary degrees. Even today, Maya Angelou Quotes, books, and poems continue to inspire people around the world. Whether you are looking for motivation, healing, or wisdom, these quotes by Maya Angelou still carry deep meaning and timeless wisdom.
Who is Maya Angelou?
Maya Angelou’s real name was Marguerite Annie Johnson, and she was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis. In her early years, she lived in California with her family. However, when she was only three years old, her parents separated. Soon after, she and her brother were sent alone by train to live with their grandmother in Stamps.
Maya Angelou later shared, “They put my brother and me on a train, without any companionship, without any adult, put tags on our arms, and said, ‘This child should be delivered to Miss Annie Henderson in Stamps, Arkansas.” Their grandmother, Annie Henderson, raised them.
When Maya Angelou was seven, she was abused by her mother’s boyfriend, which became one of the most painful experiences of her childhood. After that experience, she became mute and did not speak for nearly five years. During those years, she turned to reading books and memorizing poetry. She later said those quiet years helped her develop an unusual memory.
Angelou studied acting and dance, but at the age of 16, she became pregnant. Even then, she stayed determined to finish school. After graduating, she gave birth to her son, Guy Johnson, and worked different jobs to support herself and her child.
Maya Angelou worked many different jobs. She later became a dancer, singer, actress, writer, and civil rights activist. During the Civil Rights Movement, she worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and supported the fight for equality and justice.
Maya Angelou died on May 28, 2014, at the age of 86 in Winston-Salem. Reports said she had been dealing with health problems before her death. Even after her death, her poems, books, and speeches continue to inspire people everywhere.
Maya Angelou Famous Quotes
“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.”
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
You don’t need a perfect reason to share your voice with the world. A bird doesn’t wait to understand everything before it sings. It sings because it has a song inside it.
In the same way, you don’t have to know all the answers or be perfect before you create or express yourself. Your unique perspective is your song, and sharing it is a natural part of being alive.
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”
“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
“A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.”
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
You can also read our Jane Austen Quotes to find more inspiring words from another legendary author who is known for her clever writing.
Maya Angelou Quotes About Life
“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”
“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.”
“Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence—neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish—it is an immeasurably valuable gift.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
Time is the only thing you can’t get more of. You can earn more money or fix things you’ve broken, but once a minute is gone, it’s gone forever.
You can’t make the clock go faster when you’re bored or slower when you’re happy. Because we cannot control time, every moment we have is an “immeasurable” gift.
“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.”
“We need much less than we think we need.”
“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.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
Just because you are an adult does not mean you have grown up. Many people follow a checklist of things they are “supposed” to do, like getting a car or a house, and think that makes them mature. Real growth is about how you evolve as a person on the inside.
“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.'”
“I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful of life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.”
“We are only as blind as we want to be.”
“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.”
“Seek treasures that are not transient.”
“I do not trust any people who do not laugh. I don’t.”
“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”
“Determine to live life with flair and laughter.”
“Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told, ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.”
“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.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
You can’t go through life just thinking about what you can get for yourself. It’s good to accept help and blessings, but it’s just as important to give back to others. A good life is about both receiving and giving back to others. If you only focus on taking, you miss the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life.
“If you are lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”
“If you “If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?” lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”
“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”
“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.”
“There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.”
Maya Angelou Success Quotes
“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be good at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.”
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
“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.”
“All great achievements require time.”
“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.”
“Work is for the living. It is a miracle that we can work. We should be grateful that we have work to do.”
“Nothing succeeds like success. Get a little success, and then get a little more.”
“Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it.”
“Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the road which lies ahead, and those over whom we have charge, and if the future looks overwhelming or the path too cruel, then we are the only ones who can decide to take a different path.”
“Nothing will work unless you do.”
“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 whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
“You can only become great at something you are willing to sacrifice for”
“Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”
“Success is loving life and daring to live it.”
“Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren’t, we should behave as though we are — cheerful, kind, loving, courteous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes.”
“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.”
“Can’t Do is like Don’t Care. Neither of them have a home.”
“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!”
You can also explore our Clara Barton Quotes, known as the angel of the battlefield, for more inspiring words.
Maya Angelou on Love Quotes
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
“I sustain myself with the love of family.”
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”
“We need to have people who mean us well.”
“To those who have given up on love: I say, ‘Trust life a little bit.'”
“Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening.”
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
“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.”
“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.”
“In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.”
“Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.”
“Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it allows me to survive, and better than that, to thrive with passion, compassion, and style.”
“Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.”
“Love is a condition so powerful; it may be that which pulls the stars in the firmament. It may be that which pushes and urges the blood in the veins. Courage: you have to have courage to love somebody because you risk everything – everything.”
“I loved him, but I was not in love with him.”
Maya Angelou Quotes on Gratitude & Kindness
“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.”
“The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
If even one person is not free, then none of us are free. We are all connected, so we cannot ignore the struggles of others and assume we are safe.
Real freedom means everyone has equal rights and opportunities. Until that is true, the world is not as free or fair as it should be.
“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.”
“When we cast our bread upon the waters, we can presume that someone may find it and find it a delicious snack.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
When you do something kind, try not to worry about what happens next or what you might get in return. Trust that your small act of generosity, or your piece of “bread,” will one day reach someone who values it.
“The most important thing I can tell you is that you must be kind. Kindness is a gift that each of us can give.”
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
Being generous can make you feel free. Helping others helps you focus less on your worries and feel better emotionally. Often, the best way to feel better is to do something kind for someone else. Letting go of something for another person’s sake actually sets your own soul free.
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
“To those who are given much, much is expected.”
What Does This Quote Mean?
If you have a lot, you should be kind enough to give a lot. This is not just about money; it also means sharing your time, your skills, and your voice. Success gives you the chance to support and help other people.
“As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.”
“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.”
“If you have done the best you can do and if you have gotten all you could extract from something, you have given all you had to give, then the time has come when you can do no more than say thank you and move on.”
“Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude.”
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
For more meaningful and unforgettable words, explore our collection of Oscar Wilde Quotes. From one of the most famous Irish poets and playwrights.
Maya Angelou Book Quotes
“To the person who is empty of spirit, the arrival of a new acquaintance is like a fresh rain in a desert.” — Gather Together in My Name
“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.” — Letter to My Daughter
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” — All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.” — The Heart of a Woman
“You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies, / You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I’ll rise.” — And Still I Rise
“While I always knew that I had many things to learn, I was surprised to find that I had many things to teach.” — All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
“I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.” — The Heart of a Woman
“A man is never more masculine than when he realizes that he is a part of the human race.” — The Heart of a Woman
“The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination.” — The Heart of a Woman
“At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its extra-ordinary meaning, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.” — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but something happens to me.” — Letter to My Daughter
“I realized that I was a traveler, not a tourist.” — All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
“We are all human beings; and such more alike than we are unalike.” — I Shall Not Be Moved
“Survival is important. But thrive is elegant.” — Letter to My Daughter
“Don’t kneel please. Sometimes people put people on pedestals so they can see them more clearly and knock them off more easily” — Mom & Me & Mom
“Language is a tool of love and it is a tool of hate.” — All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” — All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
“I made up my mind to keep my own counsel and to speak to no one.” — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing
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Why is Maya Angelou Famous
Maya Angelou became famous for her powerful writing, poetry, and work in the Civil Rights Movement. Before becoming a writer, she lived an exciting life and worked in many different fields. As a teenager, she became San Francisco’s first Black female streetcar conductor. Later, she traveled across Europe and Africa as a dancer and singer. She also acted on Broadway and appeared in films.
However, it was her writing that made her famous around the world. In 1969, she published her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The book shared her childhood experiences, including racism and personal struggles. It became groundbreaking because it was one of the first widely known autobiographies written by a Black woman.
Angelou was also a civil rights activist. She worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the fight for equal rights in the 1960s. For some time, she also lived in Ghana, where she worked as a teacher and connected with African and African American activists.
Over the years, Maya Angelou wrote seven autobiographies, many poems, and several plays. One of her most famous poems, Still I Rise, became a symbol of strength and hope.
Maya also achieved many historic firsts in her life. In 1993, she became only the second poet in American history to recite a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration. Her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” was heard by millions when President Bill Clinton took office. Maya Angelou showed the world what strength, creativity, and determination truly look like.
Interesting Facts About Maya Angelou
1• Before becoming famous, Maya Angelou worked many different jobs. She worked as a cook, nightclub dancer, calypso singer, actress, and journalist in Africa.
2• Her nickname “Maya” came from her brother. He often called her “my sister,” and the name later turned into Maya.
3• Maya Angelou spoke six languages fluently. These included English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Fanti, a language spoken in Ghana.
4• She became the first Black woman to have a produced screenplay. Her movie Georgia, Georgia was released in 1972.
5• Universities around the world honored Angelou with more than 50 honorary degrees because of her work in literature and civil rights.
6• In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on Maya Angelou’s 40th birthday. After his death, she stopped celebrating her birthday and instead spent the day visiting Coretta Scott King, King’s widow.
Maya Angelou Famous Books, Poems, and Plays
Maya Angelou was one of America’s most respected writers. In her books, poems, and plays, she told stories about courage, racism, hope, and strength. Her words reached and inspired millions of people worldwide.
Famous Books
1• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: This is her most famous autobiography. It tells the story of her childhood and became an international bestseller.
2• Gather Together in My Name: This memoir is about her early adult life and her struggles as a young mother.
3• And Still I Rise: This is one of her most celebrated poetry books.
4• Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie: This book was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
5• Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now: A bestselling collection of essays about life and wisdom.
Famous Poems
1• Still I Rise: This is one of her most powerful poems about confidence and never giving up.
2• Phenomenal Woman: This famous poem is about self-confidence and womanhood.
3• On the Pulse of Morning: Recited at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.
4• Caged Bird: A poem about freedom, pain, and hope.
Famous Plays and Screenwriting
1• Georgia, Georgia: Maya Angelou wrote this screenplay, becoming the first Black woman to have a produced screenplay.
2• Cabaret for Freedom: A play that Maya Angelou helped write and produce in support of the Civil Rights Movement.
3• Roots: Angelou also acted in this award-winning television series.
Conclusion
Maya Angelou spent her entire life using words to heal, educate, and unite people. She did not let life’s struggles and challenges stop her. Instead, she used them as opportunities to grow and become a better person.
In 2010, Maya Angelou donated her personal papers and memorabilia to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library. Angelou wanted children of all backgrounds—Black, White, Asian, Spanish-speaking, Native American, and Aleutian—to have access to this history. She believed everyone deserves a place where they can go and find the truth.
I hope these Maya Angelou Quotes and her life struggles inspire you to build courage, resilience, and kindness. One of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes that inspires me the most is: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Have a great day, and peace!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maya Angelou’s real name?
Maya Angelou’s real name was Marguerite Annie Johnson.
Was Maya Angelou a Christian?
Yes, Maya Angelou was a Christian and often spoke about faith and spirituality.
Was Maya Angelou a doctor?
No, Maya Angelou was not a medical doctor. However, she received more than 50 honorary degrees.
Did Maya Angelou have kids?
Yes, Maya Angelou had one son named Guy Johnson.
When did Maya Angelou write “Still I Rise”?
Maya Angelou published Still I Rise in 1978.
What awards did Maya Angelou win?
She won many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and several Grammy Awards.
At what age did Maya Angelou die?
Maya Angelou died in 2014 at the age of 86.
