Maya Angelou

Poet Memoirist American 1928 – 2014

African-American poet and memoirist known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

384 quotes

"Justice is not about punishment; it is about restoration."
Justice
"I choose patience over haste in all my endeavors."
Patience
"Kindness is the language of the heart."
Kindness
"I draw my strength from within, not from external validation."
Strength
"Fear is a visitor; I do not have to invite it to stay."
Fear
"Power is the ability to create positive change in the world."
Power
"Money is a tool, not a measure of worth."
Money
"Health requires care, attention, and love."
Health
"Adventure is the antidote to a mundane existence."
Adventure
"My imagination is as vast as the universe itself."
Imagination
"Technology is a gift to be used responsibly."
Technology
"History is written by those who live it boldly."
History
"Philosophy teaches us how to live with purpose."
Philosophy
"Literature preserves the wisdom of generations past."
Literature
"Politics requires the participation of every citizen."
Politics
"War is the failure of diplomacy and dialogue."
War
"Motivation is the fuel that drives us toward our goals."
Motivation
"Inspiration flows from the wellspring of the human spirit."
Inspiration
"Relationships are the foundation of our humanity."
Relationships
"Solitude is a gift we give ourselves."
Solitude
"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."
Relationships
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
Change
"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."
Life
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
Truth
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas lights."
Wisdom
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
Perseverance
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
Strength
"I sustain myself with the love of family."
Family
"There is no greater wealth than health."
Health