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76 Inspirational Quotes By Maya Angelou That Will Lift Your Spirits

Famous As: American Poet and Civil Rights Activist Known for Her Autobiography ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
Born On: April 4, 1928
Died On: May 28, 2014
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died At Age: 86

Maya Angelou was a revered poet and author from America. Here are a few interesting piece of trivia from the life of this winner of residential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts.

Angelou suffered sexual abuse at 8 and the incident left a lasting impression on her. So much so that she turned mute after her offender was found dead, following his release from jail in only one day. Speaking about the five years of her life in her autobiography she mentioned, “I thought, my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone.”

Despite her editor's disapproval she collaborated with Hallmark greetings. Citing her reason she said, “If I’m America’s poet, or one of them, then I want to be in people’s hands…people who would never buy a book.”

In the Oprah Winfrey show Angelou revealed that she worked as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco. She also added that she was 16 and absolutely loved uniforms at the time and was the first black to hold the position in the city.

The author loved to binge watch Law & Order and was a great fan of country music. Commenting on the breakup of Brooks and Dunn she said, “I’ve been seriously affected by the breakup of Brooks & Dunn. They broke up after 20 years and I’ve been seriously offended by that!”

Here is a collection of inspirational quotes by one of the greatest American poets of all time, Maya Angelou.

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.

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
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Maya Angelou
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.

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.

Maya Angelou
When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.

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

Maya Angelou
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

Maya Angelou
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.

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.

Maya Angelou
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.

Maya Angelou
I don't trust people who don't love themselves and tell me, 'I love you.' ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.

I don't trust people who don't love themselves and tell me, 'I love you.' ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.

Maya Angelou
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.

Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.

Maya Angelou
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

Maya Angelou
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

Maya Angelou
I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.

I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.

Maya Angelou
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

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

Maya Angelou
Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.

Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.

Maya Angelou
Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

Maya Angelou
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

Maya Angelou
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. 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.

Maya Angelou
If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?

If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?

Maya Angelou
You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.

You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.

Maya Angelou
Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!

Maya Angelou
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.

Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.

Maya Angelou
The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

Maya Angelou
Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.

Maya Angelou
Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

Maya Angelou
No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

Maya Angelou
You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!

You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!

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

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

Maya Angelou
I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh.

I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh.

Maya Angelou
Most people don't grow up. Most people age. They find parking spaces, honor their credit cards, get married, have children, and call that maturity. What that is, is aging.

Most people don't grow up. Most people age. They find parking spaces, honor their credit cards, get married, have children, and call that maturity. What that is, is aging.

Maya Angelou
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.

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.

Maya Angelou