Quotes from Maya Angelou

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

Let's tell the truth to people. When people ask, 'How are you?' have the nerve sometimes to answer truthfully. You must know, however, that people will start avoiding you because, they, too, have knees that pain them and heads that hurt and they don't want to know about yours. But think of it this way: If people avoid you, you will have more time to meditate and do fine research on a cure for whatever truly afflicts you.

When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

We need much less than we think we need.

Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.

Be present in all things and thankful for all things.

When we find someone who is brave, fun, intelligent, and loving, we have to thank the universe.

Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.

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.

A Woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...

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. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.

I am convinced that most people do not grow up...We marry and dare to have children and call that growing up. I think what we do is mostly grow old. We carry accumulation of years in our bodies, and on our faces, but generally our real selves, the children inside, are innocent and shy as magnolias.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'.

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.

I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

All great achievements require time.

Nothing will work unless you do.

To those who have given up on love: I say, Trust life a little bit.

Every person needs to take one day away.  A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.  Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence.  Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.

In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.