Angelou, one of America’s leading literary voices, died at her North Carolina home on Wednesday morning.
“She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being,” her son Guy Johnson said in a statement. “She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace.”
We’re all going to miss Maya Angelou’s inspirational words — but we’ll never forget these beautiful quotes she left behind.
1. “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
2.”Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
3. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
4.“The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
5. “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”
6. “When you learn, teach, when you get, give.”
7. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
8. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
9. “Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”
10. “Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
11. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
12. “You may not control all of the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
13. “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, we’ll never forget how you made us feel.
What are your favourite Maya Angelou quotes?
Top Comments
Mr Obama kissed her lightly when he gave her The Freedom medal.
Such a wonderful gift to be received from an African American whose ancestors came from slavery.
The most poignant image in political history
Bless her gorgeous heart, mind and soul
X x x
Truly inspiring. Just listening to her velvet voice when she spoke gave me goosebumps.