#Quotes from maya angelou full

Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay – and rise!” Disasters remind us we are world citizens, whether we like it or not.” We are obliged to know we are global citizens. You have your humanity, and you must not allow anything to reduce that. “During bad circumstances, which is the human inheritance, you must decide not to be reduced.What black old people used to call ‘mother wit’ means intelligence that you had in your mother’s womb. “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”.Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there.We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential.“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”.“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”.You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands you need to be able to throw something back.”.“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”.

#Quotes from maya angelou full

It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” “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.”.If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” “If you don’t like something, change it.“I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory.”.“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”.It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” “Words mean more than what is set down on paper.Until you do, however, reflect on a few of her beautiful words and honor her memory today. If you have the chance, read some of her amazing poems from the library or wherever you have the opportunity. The last thing she tweeted was highly appropriate, “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.” Angelou has also won three Grammy Awards for her spoken-word albuDr. Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was recognized in 2000 and received the Presidential Medal of Arts and, in 2008, the Lincoln Medal. The scope of her influence reached famous figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Oprah Winfrey (who would throw Dr. Her most notable work includes her debut memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which remains widely read in schools. Angelou accomplished so much in her 86 years. She even worked once as a madam in a brothel and as the first female and first black street car conductor in San Francisco.ĭr. She was an actress, director, playwright, composer, singer and dancer. In all, Angelou produced more than 30 best-selling works of fiction and non-fiction. She was a walking encyclopedia of careers and passions, trying careers in all sorts of fields. Angelou became a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. While in Ghana, Angelou met Malcolm X and, in 1964, returned to America with him to help form his Organization of African American Unity.ĭespite being a high school dropout, Dr. She later graduated and gave birth to her son, Guy, soon after. At the age of 14, she dropped out of school and became the city’s first African-American, female street car conductor. Angelou attended high school in San Francisco, and studied dance and drama. She was found Wednesday at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C.Ī little about her life: Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. We skimmed through her words, wrote papers, memorized speeches, but did we really let her words sink in? Now is the time for reflection this incredible American author, poet and civil rights activist has died at 86. We all most likely have some memory of studying Maya Angelou, whether it was in high school or college.