Maya Angelou’s legacy is woven into the fabric of modern literature and social justice. Her life story, marked by triumph over adversity, is reflected in her powerful words that continue to inspire millions worldwide. Angelou’s quotes are simple yet profound, encouraging self-respect, empathy, courage, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Whether you seek motivation, comfort, or a fresh perspective, her insights provide a timeless source of strength.
This article presents a comprehensive collection of more than 133 inspirational quotes from Maya Angelou. Each quote stands alone as a nugget of wisdom, ready to uplift and empower you. No elaborate explanations—just pure, direct inspiration.
133+ Maya Angelou Inspirational Quotes to Guide Your Path
1. “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. ”
2. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. ”
3. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. ”
4. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. ”
5. “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. ”
6. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. ”
7. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ”
8. “Nothing will work unless you do. ”
9. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. ”
10. “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. ”
11. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. ”
12. “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. ”
13. “The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible. ”
14. “I sustain myself with the love of family. ”
15. “If you have done the best you can do and if you have gotten all you could extract from something — you have given all you had to give, then the time has come when you can do no more than say thank you and move on. ”
16. “Love liberates; it doesn’t merely possess, as that is ego. Love is freeing. ”
17. “Have the courage to trust love again, and always once more. ”
18. “One must first learn to care for oneself before daring to care for another. ”
19. “The human heart is fragile and sensitive, requiring tangible encouragement to sustain its efforts. ”
20. “You are truly free when you realize you belong nowhere — you belong everywhere and nowhere at all. ”
21. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ”
22. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. ”
23. “Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls. ”
24. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ”
25. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude; you might discover a new solution. ”
26. “Aspiring to touch the stars is ambitious; striving to touch hearts is wise. ”
27. “Life will only give you what you invest in it. Pour your heart into everything you undertake, and then await the results. ”
28. “Hatred has created numerous problems in the world, yet it has never resolved a single one. ”
29. “Everything in the universe has its own rhythm; everything dances. ”
30. “True freedom is embracing people for who they are, without the need to comprehend every aspect of their being. ”
31. “Whether faced with stormy skies or sunny days, I choose to maintain an attitude of gratitude. ”
32. “For our children to embrace themselves, they must observe us embracing ourselves. ”
33. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ”
34. “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. ”
35. “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women. ”
36. “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being. ”
37. “My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done, to try and love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return. ”
38. “We require far less than we believe. ”
39. “No one can dim the light that shines from within. ”
40. “Cultivate enough bravery to advocate for yourself and then extend that support to others. ”
41. “Love heals and liberates. It is a powerful force that may hold the cosmos in place. ”
42. “Love is contagious; it can affect anyone at any moment. ”
43. “Never prioritize someone when you are merely an option to them. ”
44. “If you possess only one smile, share it with those you cherish. ”
45. “Life presents us with opportunities we may not have consciously sought. ”
46. “I am thankful for being a woman; it feels as if I must have accomplished something remarkable in a past life. ”
47. “Yet a bird confined in a narrow cage rarely sees beyond its bars of frustration. ”
48. “The concept of overcoming challenges intrigues me. ”
49. “Success is about appreciating yourself, valuing what you do, and how you do it. ”
50. “When we give freely and receive graciously, everyone benefits. ”
51. “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. ”
52. “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim. ”
53. “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a challenge. You’ve got to go out and kick ass. ”
54. “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ”
55. “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. ”
56. “I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. ”
57. “For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. ”
58. “As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good. ”
59. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends. ”
60. “The needs of a society determine its ethics. ”
61. “You don’t have to think about doing the right thing. If you’re for the right thing, then you do it without thinking. ”
62. “You can never be great at anything unless you love it. ”
63. “I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it. ”
64. “We are here to love each other. That is why you are alive. That is what life is for. ”
65. “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. ”
66. “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’. ”
67. “Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with acts of kindness. ”
68. “Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden of your tender heart. ”
69. “If you have only one smile, share it. ”
70. “Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass. ”
71. “Love demands everything we are and will ever be, yet it is love that grants us freedom. ”
72. “If we are courageous, love will break the chains of fear binding our souls. ”
73. “The pain of losing young love is so intense that it teeters on the absurd. ”
74. “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them. ”
75. “When we give freely and receive graciously, everyone benefits. ”
76. “Whether faced with stormy skies or sunny days, I choose to maintain an attitude of gratitude. ”
77. “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life. ”
78. “You are truly free when you realize you belong nowhere — you belong everywhere and nowhere at all. ”
79. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ”
80. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. ”
81. “Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. ”
82. “Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls. ”
83. “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. ”
84. “Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women. ”
85. “The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible. ”
86. “Love is freeing. ”
87. “Love heals and liberates. ”
88. “Nothing will work unless you do. ”
89. “Hate has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. ”
90. “Courage is the most important of all the virtues. ”
91. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ”
92. “The needs of a society determine its ethics. ”
93. “I sustain myself with the love of family. ”
94. “If you have done all you can, say thank you and move on. ”
95. “People will forget what you said, but never how you made them feel. ”
96. “Life will only give you what you invest in it. ”
97. “True freedom is embracing people for who they are. ”
98. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ”
99. “Success is liking yourself. ”
100. “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them. ”
101. “You can never be great at anything unless you love it. ”
102. “I think we all have empathy. ”
103. “We are here to love each other. ”
104. “It is time for parents to teach young people that in diversity there is strength. ”
105. “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life. ”
106. “To forgive is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. ”
107. “If you don’t like something, change it. ”
108. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. ”
109. “Life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. ”
110. “A wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim. ”
111. “Love recognizes no barriers. ”
112. “Love is contagious. ”
113. “Never prioritize someone when you are merely an option to them. ”
114. “If you possess only one smile, share it. ”
115. “The human heart needs encouragement to sustain its efforts. ”
116. “Love demands everything we are and will ever be. ”
117. “One must first learn to care for oneself before caring for another. ”
118. “I am thankful for being a woman. ”
119. “The concept of overcoming challenges intrigues me. ”
120. “Success is about appreciating yourself. ”
121. “When we give freely, everyone benefits. ”
122. “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. ”
123. “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. ”
124. “Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. ”
125. “As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good. ”
126. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but it can introduce the idea of understanding. ”
127. “The needs of a society determine its ethics. ”
128. “You don’t have to think about doing the right thing; if you’re for the right thing, you do it. ”
129. “You can never be great at anything unless you love it. ”
130. “I think we all have empathy. ”
131. “We are here to love each other. ”
132. “It is time for parents to teach young people that in diversity there is beauty. ”
133. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, but never how you made them feel. ”
134. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. ”
135. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ”
Conclusion
Maya Angelou’s words are a treasure trove of inspiration. They remind us to live courageously, love freely, and embrace our true selves. Her quotes encourage action, resilience, and kindness in a world that often challenges both. This collection of over 133 quotes offers a wellspring of motivation to uplift your spirit and guide your journey. Let these simple yet powerful truths inspire you to be your best self every day.
This article has gathered the essence of Maya Angelou’s wisdom in a direct and accessible way, perfect for reflection or sharing. Her legacy lives on through these words, continuing to inspire generations to rise above and thrive.
