Maya Angelou
American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist, 1928-2014
69 quotes.
Quotes by Maya Angelou
- Talent is like electricity. We don't understand electricity. We use it.
- Thank you, always say thank you; it’s the greatest gift you can give someone.
- The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.
- This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.
- Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
- We May Encounter Many Defeats But We Must Not Be Defeated.
- We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.
- What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.
- 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.
- When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time. Not the 29th time!
- When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. People know themselves much better than you do. That's why it's important to stop expecting them to be something other than who they are
- When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.
- When you get give. When you learn teach.
- When you know you are of worth — not asking it but knowing it — you walk into a room with a particular power.
- Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.
- Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
- You can only become great at that thing you're willing to sacrifice for.
- 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.
- You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
- You don’t have to tell everything you know, but let what you do say be the truth as you understand it.
- You have to deal with what you encounter. But you must not be reduced. And so a way not to be reduced is don’t whine! Don’t let the incidents which take place in life bring you low.
- You listen with interest. That gives some sense of confidence to the speaker.
- 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.
- You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.
- You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.
- You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
- You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.
- Your belief and your work will speak for you.
- Your legacy is every life you’ve ever touched.