Maya Angelou

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.

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.

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.

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform a million realities.

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

A little learning is a dangerous thing, but we must take that risk because a little is as much as our biggest heads can hold.

The beginning of wisdom is a definition of terms.

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, Sir, I am your most humble servant. You are not his most humble servant. You may say, These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times. You don’t mind the times … You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don’t think foolishly.

All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.

I know of no such unquestionable badge and ensign of a sovereign mind as that of tenacity of purpose.

Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion, and he whose real wants are supplied must admit those of fancy.

If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.

It is more agreeable to have the power to give than to receive.

Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you who you’ll turn out to be.

Power over others is weakness disguised as strength. True power is within and available to you now.

The Public is merely a multiplied “me”.

Say a word, say a thousand to me on the telephone and I shall choose the wrong one to cling to as though you had said it after long deliberation when only I provoked it from you, I will cling to it from among a thousand, to be provoked and hurl it back with something I mean no more than you meant that, something for you to cling to and retreat clinging to.

The quickest way to become troubled is to be concerned with what people are gonna say about your life and your work.