R.I.P Maya Angelou; 9 Quotations To Inspire Us

We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Maya Angelou, a poet, author and civil rights activist whose wisdom, spirit and humor have been an inspiration and a buoy for so many people since she published her first memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in 1969. Her advice and wisdom were simple, digestible and profound. Here are a few of our favorite quotations that we’ll always hold near to our hearts.

On giving back: “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.”

On complaining: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

On writing: “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”

On the Golden Rule: “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.”

On breaking the cycle: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

On survival: “All my work, my life, everything I do is about survival, not just bare, awful, plodding survival, but survival with grace and faith. While one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated.”

On acceptance: “At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.”

On forgiveness: “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.'”

On seizing the day: “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.”

Thank you, Ms. Angelou, for your words, your strength, and your indomitable spirit. The world is darker without you, but it’s all the brighter for what you’ve given us.


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