Maya Angelou

Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence – neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish – it is an imponderably valuable gift.

Achievement brings its own anticlimax.

Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.

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

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: “I’m with you kid. Let’s go.”

Children’s talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.

The family is very important. They make me feel good always because if I won, when I started to be famous, the relationship never changed with my friends and family.

You have to get that mom face right, like, ‘Oh, did that happen? Tell me more.’ Trying not to react so you get the good information. I tried to tell Sasha and Malia, ‘Do not go to other 14-year-olds for information, ’cause all you all are dumb. Talk to me.’ It’s like, ‘All of you are dumb. You know nothing. Love you!’ So, let’s just talk about it. Don’t ask Olivia what she thinks about sex. She doesn’t know!

I was bribing North to wear her butter 350’s by saying they glow in the dark. However, she made me turn off the lights to test it. She caught me lying but Kanye was on speaker phone and said don’t worry I will make them.

I was probably 10 or 11 when I saw that, and sort of started thinking, ‘You know what? Marriage is an option. Having a family is an option. And going to school and getting your education and building your career is another really viable option that can lead to happiness and fulfillment.

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Your parents leave you too soon and your kids and spouse come along late, but your siblings know you when you are in your most inchoate form. – Jeffrey Kluger

My daughter hasn’t seen me with anybody in five years. I’m very, very selective when it comes to that because I want to make sure that it’s real. I don’t want her to see me with just anybody because she means everything to me.

I’m going to let people know that it’s cool to have a child and be young and still be a good mom. It’s really tough, but I’m doing it.

I have to be in tune with my husband, where he is, how he’s feeling. I have to be in tune with where my family is. The same thing is true in the work that I do. It’s all about me feeling where people are. So that’s why I try to be really present, even when I’m on a rope line. I never take for granted my interactions with people. And it’s never black-and-white. I’m usually reading the crowd, reading the people that I’m with. I guess if this role has changed me, it’s improved my ability to do that. I’ve gotten better at sensing where people are at any given time.

I am lucky because my family are comfortably off. My father has his own glass business.

Be nice to your siblings, they’re your best link to your past and the most likely to stay with you in the future.

Once I became a mother I knew that I was strong, but not ready to do what I’m doing now

Those who have never had a father can at any rate never know the sweets of losing one. To most men the death of his father is a new lease of life.

I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.

Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.