23 Quotes by Maya Angelou That Will Change Your Life

Life-Changing Quotes from a Legend

Dr. Maya Angelou was known for making the English language ‘sing’. The renowned poet, author, and civil rights activist passed away today in her hometown of Winston-Salem, NC. Born in 1928, she led a triumphant and rich life. Dr. Angelou tirelessly gave her talents to the world – and we are all better for it. See some of our favorite quotes from Dr. Maya Angelou below:

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. Nothing will work unless you do.

4. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

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

7. When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

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. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.

11. I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.

12. I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.

13. I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.

14. If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.

15. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.

16. I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

17. If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.

18. I believe that every person is born with talent.

19. There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.

20. 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.

21. The most important thing I can tell you about aging is this: If you really feel that you want to have an off-the-shoulder blouse and some big beads and thong sandals and a dirndl skirt and a magnolia in your hair, do it. Even if you’re wrinkled.

22. Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.’

23. What is a fear of living? It’s being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself – for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don’t know what you’re here to do, then just do some good.