Quotes from Dr. Maya Angelou

A woman who has touched hearts across the world with her wisdom and insight, Maya Angelou’s words have guided so many people especially black women through so many moments in their lives. Her words gave reason to pause and reflect, and her booming voice, matched by her stature, makes one stop in their tracks.

Here are some of our favorite quotes from Dr. Maya Angelou. Let us honour her legacy by taking to heart her words and living our best possible lives.

1. If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Nothing will work unless you do.
5. Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
6. Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.
7. You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.’
8. There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
9. We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.
10. A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.
11. I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.
12. I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.
13. 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.
14. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.
15. Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.
16. I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
17. A cynical young person is almost the saddest sight to see, because it means that he or she has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.
18. The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.
19. When you know better you do better.
20. Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope

A great way to start your day, right? We’re glad we could help!