Maya Angelou born Marguerite Annie Johnson was an American poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows. She has received numerous awards and accolades. Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences.
Marguerite Annie Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. She became a poet and writer after doing a number of odd jobs during her young adulthood. She was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She rose to fame with the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Her books center on themes including racism, identity, family, and travel. She was respected as a spokesperson for black people and women. Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86 on the morning of May 28, 2014.
1 You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. -Maya Angelou
You may not have a lot of control over your circumstances. But you always have control over how you react to it. It is always your choice to let it affect you or not.
2 You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. -Maya Angelou
Only if you love what you do, can you be successful at it. Until you love your job with all your heart, you will only fail at it.
3 If you don’t like something, change it, If you can’t change it, change your attitude. -Maya Angelou
If you are unhappy with the situation around you, do your best to change it. But if you do not have the power to change that, you always have the power to change your attitude towards it, and that makes all the difference.
4 If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me? -Maya Angelou
If you cannot show love and kindness to yourself, how can you expect others to be any different? Before you try to find acceptance from those around you, learn to accept yourself first.
5 We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. -Maya Angelou
Everything beautiful around us has had to go through some tough changes to be the way it is. We rarely ever perceive or acknowledge the process and instead just admire the end result.
6 Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time. -Maya Angelou
Love, kindness and hope are what make life bearable and colourful. However hard it has been for you before, never lose hope. Always show the courage to love again, even if you fear a heartbreak.
7 Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option. -Maya Angelou
Never lose sight of your own worth. Understand what people around you feel about you. Never make those a priority who only think of you just another option. Respect has to be mutual.
8 Determine to live life with flair and laughter. -Maya Angelou
Enjoy your life and always add colour to it. Never forget to have fun. All that matters is that in the end, you are satisfied that you’ve lived a happy and fulfilling life.
9 We are only as blind as we want to be. -Maya Angelou
We can only see what we choose to see. You can choose to live in ignorance or pull out their blinds and see things for what they really are.
10 Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it. -Maya Angelou
You can be great at something only if you love it with all your heart. You need to give it your all, only then will you be able to achieve something.
11 I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. -Maya Angelou
No matter how much you think you know, there’s always more for you to learn. Learning is a process that never ends.
12 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. -Maya Angelou
People will always remember the way you have made them feel. They will forget your actions and maybe even your words, but they’ll always remember what you made them feel.
13 Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible. -Maya Angelou
Prejudice blinds people. It breeds hatred and violence, making the future uncertain and the past confusing. Prejudice and hate threatens the present.
14 Nothing will work unless you do. -Mary Angelou
You cannot sit there wishing for things to work out without actually working for it. Nothing will ever work unless you start working for yourself.
15 Love recognizes no barriers, It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. -Maya Angelou
Love cannot be stopped. No matter how much you try to stop it, no matter what obstacles it will have to face, love always perseveres and makes it through. Love is full of hope.
16 I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’. -Maya Angelou
Life isn’t all about making money and being rich. No amount of money can buy happiness or love. These are the things that you need in your life to actually start living it wholly.
17 It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself: to forgive. Forgive everybody. -Maya Angelou
Holding a grudge is like slowly drinking poison. It’ll hurt you more than anyone else. Your grudge will cage you. On the other hand, you’ll find liberation in the act of forgiving.
18 If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. -Maya Angelou
If all you want to be is just good enough, you’ll never reach your full potential. You need to rise above mediocrity and aim for higher things.
19 The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible. -Maya Angelou
In the end, the legacy that you leave behind will be measured by how profoundly you have affected people’s lives. You can aim for impossibilities but the simple wish to touch hearts and change lives is entirely possible and something that holds more meaning and purpose.
20 Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. -Maya Angelou
When you’re onto something, it’s your responsibility to give it everything you have. You need to make the most of what you have in your entire capacity. Once you’ve made mistakes and learned from them, you can then do better than that.
21 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. -Maya Angelou
Life is going to throw hurdles at you every step of the way. If you’re going to be passive about it and be on the defensive, you’ll never be able to move forward. You need to be able to push back and make your way forward.
22 As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good. -Maya Angelou
Almost every moment in life will give you the opportunity to be better and do something good. As long as you’re alive and breathing, it’s your duty to take that chance.
23 Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. -Maya Angelou
Hate can’t achieve anything meaningful in the world. All it does is cause problems, initiate violence and destroy lives.
24 Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. -Maya Angelou
The quality of your life can be measured by how profoundly you affect another person. The world is full of cruel people with cruel intentions. Try your best to be the person who brings smile and laughter to someone who has lost all hope.
25 No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. -Maya Angelou
No matter how dark today may seem, things will surely be better tomorrow. Life goes on without stopping for anyone. Hold on to whatever hope you can find because there’s always something worth holding on to.
26 Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood. -Maya Angelou
Bullies always love to see fear and pain in the eyes of their victims. Never let it go their way. Stand up for yourself without whining so they know they have messed with the wrong person.
27 When we decide to be happy we accept the responsibility to bring happiness to someone else. -Maya Angelou
Happiness has to be contagious. When you make a conscious effort to be happy it’s also your responsibility to bring happiness into someone else’s life too.
28 Develop enough courage so you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else. -Maya Angelou
Never bend your knees for anyone. Gather the courage to stand up for yourself whenever you’ve been wronged. It’s not just injustice inflicted upon you that you need to speak up against. You should have the courage to also stand up for anyone who’s suffering injustice.
29 The greatest gift we give to each other is the telling of the truth. -Maya Angelou
Truth is the best gift you can give someone. Every person has the right to the truth. No matter how bitter and painful it may be, they deserve it.
30 Use that anger. You write it. You paint it. You dance it. You march it. You vote it. -Maya Angelou
Anger is powerful when used correctly. If you feel rage against the system, against the society, against oppression and injustice, you need to use that anger in meaningful ways. Channel that anger towards something that can actually bring change. Turn to art, creativity and love rather than violence.
30 Best Maya Angelou Quotes of All Time!
1. You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. -Maya Angelou
2. You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. -Maya Angelou
3. If you don’t like something, change it, If you can’t change it, change your attitude. -Maya Angelou
4. If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me? -Maya Angelou
5. We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. -Maya Angelou
6. Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time. -Maya Angelou
7. Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option. -Maya Angelou
8. Determine to live life with flair and laughter. -Maya Angelou
9. We are only as blind as we want to be. -Maya Angelou
10. Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it. -Maya Angelou
11. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. -Maya Angelou
12. 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. -Maya Angelou
13. Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible. -Maya Angelou
14. Nothing will work unless you do. -Mary Angelou
15. Love recognizes no barriers, It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. -Maya Angelou
16. I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’. -Maya Angelou
17. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself: to forgive. Forgive everybody. -Maya Angelou
18. If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. -Maya Angelou
19. The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible. -Maya Angelou
20. Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. -Maya Angelou
21. 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. -Maya Angelou
22. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good. -Maya Angelou
23. Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. -Maya Angelou
24. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. -Maya Angelou
25. No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. -Maya Angelou
26. Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood. -Maya Angelou
27. When we decide to be happy we accept the responsibility to bring happiness to someone else. -Maya Angelou
28. Develop enough courage so you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else. -Maya Angelou
29. The greatest gift we give to each other is the telling of the truth. -Maya Angelou
30. Use that anger. You write it. You paint it. You dance it. You march it. You vote it. -Maya Angelou
