60 Thought-Provoking Maya Angelou Quotes — Inspirational Words of Wisdom

Thought-provoking Maya Angelou quotes: Maya Angelou was a renowned novelist, poet, activist, and all-around inspirational lady whose writing had a profound impact on many people’s lives. Here are some of Maya Angelou’s most motivational quotes in honor of the incredible legacy she has left behind.

Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was a celebrated author, influential poet, dancer, actress, singer, and activist. Maya received over 50 honorary degrees and is celebrated for her series of 7 autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and adult experiences.

Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes

1. “Faith is the evidence of the unseen.”― Maya Angelou

2. “All knowledge is spendable currency, depending on the market.”― Maya Angelou

3. “Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”― Maya Angelou

4. “Take a day to heal from the lies you’ve told yourself and the ones that have been told to you.”― Maya Angelou

5. “I hope you always find a reason to smile.”― Maya Angelou

6. “You can’t get too high for somebody to bring you down.”― Maya Angelou

7. “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”― Maya Angelou

Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes About Love, Life

8. “There is nothing a person can’t do, and there should be nothing a human being doesn’t care about. It was the most positive encouragement I could have hoped for.”― Maya Angelou

9. “Every day I awaken I am grateful. My intent is to be totally present on that day. And laugh as much as possible.”― Maya Angelou

10. “There is nothing quite so tragic as a young cynic because it means the person has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.”― Maya Angelou

11. “I swear to God, I rather you have a good mind than a cute behind.”― Maya Angelou

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

13. “They may have forgotten how badly they treated you, or they may pretend that they have forgotten. But watch: They will come back to you.”― Maya Angelou

14. “I looked up the way I was going and back the way I come and since I wasn’t satisfied I stepped off and [found] me a new path.”― Maya Angelou

15. “The only way out of something is all the way through it.”― Maya Angelou

Motivational Maya Angelou Quotes To Uplift And Inspire You

16. “I had to trust life, since I was young enough to believe that life loved the person who dared to live it.”― Maya Angelou

17. “The woman who truly intends to live a good life is already living phenomenally since intent is part of the achievement.”― Maya Angelou

18. “I’m happy…I laugh as much as I can and cry when I have to, without apology. I think that’s happy.”― Maya Angelou

19. “Always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.”― Maya Angelou

20. “On this platform of peace, we can create a language to translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.”― Maya Angelou

21. “Believe people when they tell you who they are. They know themselves better than you.”― Maya Angelou

22. “I wish we could stop the little lies. I don’t mean that one has to be brutally frank. I don’t believe that we should be brutal about anything, however, it is wonderfully liberating to be honest. One does not have to tell all that one knows, but we should be careful what we say is the truth.” ― Maya Angelou

Great Maya Angelou Quotes To Inspire, Empower, And Images

23. “The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.”― Maya Angelou

24. “Your reputation is the most important thing you’ll ever have. Not clothes, nor money, not the big cars you may drive. If your reputation is good, you can achieve anything you want in the world.”― Maya Angelou

25. “Although I had no regrets, I told myself sadly that growing up was not the painless process one would have thought it to be.”― Maya Angelou

26. “I created myself. I have taught myself so much.” – Maya Angelou

27. “I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.” – Maya Angelou

28. “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.” – Maya Angelou

Insanely Inspiring Quotes By Maya Angelou To Keep Life

29. “Human beings are like plants. If we pause a few seconds in our journey, we begin setting down roots, tendrils that entangle other people as we ourselves are entangled.” ― Maya Angelou

30. “I am grateful to have been loved and to be loved now and to be able to love.” – Maya Angelou

31. “Do the best you can do till you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” ― Maya Angelou

32. “It’s hard because people think they have something to lose and the truth is they have everything to gain in trying to love somebody.” – Maya Angelou

33. “I learned that to be charitable with gestures and words can bring enormous joy and repair injured feelings.” ― Maya Angelou

34. “I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.” – Maya Angelou

35. “Peace means when there is conflict, use our common sense and our compassion to consider the rest of humanity, our human brothers and sisters.” ― Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou Resilience Quotes

36. “What is a fear of living? It’s being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself – for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don’t know what you’re here to do, then just do some good.” – Maya Angelou

37. “We begin to stop in order simply to begin again.” ― Maya Angelou

38. “There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.”- Maya Angelou

39. “Take as much time as you need to make up your mind, but once it is made up, step out on your decision like it’s something you want.”― Maya Angelou

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

Maya Angelou Quotes For A Life Full Of Love Courage

41. “It’s hard to make the prettiest clothes fit a miserable man.” ― Maya Angelou

42. “I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment.” – Maya Angelou

43. “We must insist that the men and women who expect to lead us recognize the true desires of those who are being led.”― Maya Angelou

44. “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you will look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully.” – Maya Angelou

45. “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”― Maya Angelou

46. “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” ― Maya Angelou

Awesome Maya Angelou Quotes About Success And Purpose

47. “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” ― Maya Angelou

48. “Talent is like electricity. We don’t understand electricity. We use it.” ― Maya Angelou

49. “This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.” ― Maya Angelou

50. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ― Maya Angelou

51. “Precious jewel, you glow, you shine, reflecting all the good things in the world. Just look at yourself.” ― Maya Angelou

52. “The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.” ― Maya Angelou

Amazing Maya Angelou Quotes About Life Lessons

53. “I note the obvious differences between each sort and type,

54. but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” ― Maya Angelou

55. “Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.” ― Maya Angelou

56. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” ― Maya Angelou

57. “Intelligence always had a pornographic influence on me.”― Maya Angelou

58. “There is a true yearning to respond to the singing river and wise rock.”― Maya Angelou

Short and Best Maya Angelou Quotes About Strength

59. “I learned that a friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” ― Maya Angelou

60. “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”― Maya Angelou

In 2010, she received one of the country’s highest honors when President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Maya Angelou’s life represented confidence, contribution, and perseverance. She left behind a lifetime of wisdom that will be cherished for many years.