“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.” – Angelou’s Facebook (2011)
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”- Date unknown
“I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory.” – Interview with the Academy of Achievement (1990)
“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.”- Interview from the April 2011 edition of O, the Oprah Magazine (2011)
“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” –Interview in USA TODAY (March 5, 1988)
“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.” – Interview with Oprah for Angelou’s 70th birthday (2000)
“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.” – Interview for Beautifully Said Magazine (2012)
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Excerpted from Letter to My Daughter, a book of essays (2009)
“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” – The Art of Fiction No. 119, the Paris Review
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Angelou’s Facebook (Jan. 11, 2013)
“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God”. – Maya Angelou@DrMayaAngelou (Her last tweet)