Maya Angelou

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

As far as I knew white women were never lonely, except in books. White men adored them, Black men desired them and Black women worked for them.

I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.

The sadness of the women’s movement is that they don’t allow the necessity of love. See, I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.

To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.

Wake up, lift your head, open your eyes, and dream. Gaze softly into your heart’s whispers. Notice the pull of your belly and that which makes you come alive. Let your soul speak, beckoning you to embark on that one voyage you can no longer let lie.

Man gives every reason for his conduct save one, every excuse for his crimes save one, every plea for his safety save one; and that one is his cowardice.

I believe that he was really sorry that people would not believe he was sorry that he was not more sorry.

My evening visitors, if they cannot see the clock should find the time in my face.

When Satan makes impure verses, Allah sends a divine tune to cleanse them.

A man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he does of his dinner.

Wine makes a man more pleased with himself; I do not say it makes him more pleasing to others.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.

I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.

Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.

Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books nobody reads.

The fatal trait of the times is the divorce between religion and morality.

Silence is the virtue of fools.