Maya Angelou Quotes
Poet, memoirist and civil rights activist whose I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings opened a new chapter in American letters. Maya Angelou's words on rising, courage and kindness uplift millions. Below are 19 of the most loved Maya Angelou quotes, chosen from across their works and letters. Tap Copy on any quote to save or share it.
If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.
There is a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I'll rise.
If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
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.
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.
You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.
Still I'll rise.
Nothing will work unless you do.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
I am a Woman, phenomenally. Phenomenal Woman, that's me.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.