Which are your favorite Maya Angelou quotes? 

Sadly Maya Angelou passed away over 3 years ago now;

The wisdom that she learned and shared with us over the years will never be forgotten, because there is so much we can learn from her knowledge, and luckily we have it in writing to always remember.

Maya was a successful American author, poet, singer, dancer, actress; and many of her quotes about life have been really inspirational to me, not to mention millions of other people around the world.

This is a compiled list of some of the most inspirational Maya Angelou quotes on life and death.

Table of Contents

50 Maya Angelou Quotes

1. “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.” – Maya Angelou

2. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou

3. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou

4. “My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.” – Maya Angelou

5. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” – Maya Angelou

6. “You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.'” – Maya Angelou

7. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

8. “I believe that every person is born with talent.” – Maya Angelou

9. “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.” – Maya Angelou

10th of 50 Maya Angelou Quotes

10. “I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.” – Maya Angelou

11. “Most people don’t grow up. It’s too damn difficult. What happens is most people get older. That’s the truth of it. They honor their credit cards, they find parking spaces, they marry, they have the nerve to have children, but they don’t grow up.” – Maya Angelou

12. “If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.” – Maya Angelou

13. “If you want what you’re saying heard, then take your time and say it so that the listener will actually hear it. You might save somebody’s life. Your own, first.” – Maya Angelou

14. “Eating is so intimate. It’s very sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you’re inviting a person into your life.” – Maya Angelou

15. “Our stories come from our lives and from the playwright’s pen, the mind of the actor, the roles we create, the artistry of life itself and the quest for peace.” – Maya Angelou

16. “At 50, I began to know who I was. It was like waking up to myself.” – Maya Angelou

17. “Don’t get older just to get wiser. If you get older, you will be wiser, I believe that – if you dare. But get older because it’s fun!” – Maya Angelou

18. “I thank God I’m myself and for the life I’m given to live and for friends and lovers and beloveds, and I thank God for knowing that all those people have already paid for me.” – Maya Angelou

19. “My life has been one great big joke, a dance that’s walked a song that’s spoke, I laugh so hard I almost choke when I think about myself.” – Maya Angelou

20th of 50 Maya Angelou Quotes

20. “My life has been long, and believing that life loves the liver of it, I have dared to try many things, sometimes trembling, but daring still.” – Maya Angelou

21. “At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.” – Maya Angelou

22. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou

23. “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” – Maya Angelou

24. “All great achievements require time.” – Maya Angelou

25. “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.” – Maya Angelou

26. “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” – Maya Angelou

27. “Everyone has at least one story, and each of us is funny if we admit it. You have to admit you’re the funniest person you’ve ever heard of.” – Maya Angelou

28. “I’m considered wise, and sometimes I see myself as knowing. Most of the time, I see myself as wanting to know. And I see myself as a very interested person. I’ve never been bored in my life.” – Maya Angelou

29. “I’m always disappointed when people don’t live up to their potential. I know that a number of people look down on themselves and consequently on everybody who looks like them. But that, too, can change.” – Maya Angelou

30th of 50 Maya Angelou Quotes

30. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

31. “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.” – Maya Angelou

32. “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.” – Maya Angelou

33. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

34. “We need much less than we think we need.” – Maya Angelou

35. “If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?” – Maya Angelou

36. “Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” – Maya Angelou

37. “I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.” – Maya Angelou

38. “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” – Maya Angelou

39. “If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou

40th of 50 Maya Angelou Quotes

40. “Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.” – Maya Angelou

41. “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” – Maya Angelou

42. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

43. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.” – Maya Angelou

44. “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” – Maya Angelou

45. “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world but has not solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou

46. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou

48. “There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.” – Maya Angelou

49. “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.” – Maya Angelou

50. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou Picture Quote

Summary

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Which are your favorite Maya Angelou quotes? Leave a comment below.

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