35 Beautiful Maya Angelou Quotes to Inspire

These Maya Angelou quotes are a fount of inspiration and wisdom for almost any situation you find yourself in. As one of America’s best-loved poets and authors, Maya Angelou’s famous quotes reveal the power of self-reflection, compassion, and the courage to accept life events as we strive to change the world – often in a few simple words.

Share these beautiful messages to inspire family, friends, and yourself today. And if you’re looking for even more inspiration, this collection of motivational quotes is just the thing to inject some positivity into your day!

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes

These Maya Angelou quotes about life are just so good! So insightful and lovely. What a wise woman she was indeed.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

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

“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.”

“If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?”

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

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

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

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

“We need much less than we think we need.”

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

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”

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

“Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

“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.”

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

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

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

“We are only as blind as we want to be.”

“I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.”

“Determine to live life with flair and laughter.”

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”

“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.”

“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.”

“Courage – you develop courage by doing small things like just as if you wouldn’t want to pick up a 100-pound weight without preparing yourself. “

“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 Love Quotes

• “I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all, Dr Maya Angelou
• Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ― Maya Angelou
• Love is that condition in the healing spirit so profound that it allows us to forgive, Dr. Maya Angelou
• Love can be used for anything you can explain, any good thing that you can explain, Dr. Maya Angelou
• The love of the family, the love of one person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society, Dr. Maya Angelou

Maya Angerlou certainly encourages us to accept the love given to us by others and to show love in return. I couldn’t help but share one more. This one is perfect to share with a friend!

My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart. ― Maya Angelou

Looking for more quotes?

• Start your day off right with these good morning quotes and
• share these positive affirmations with friends. The printable cards make them easy to share.
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• I love texting a friend one of these friendship quotes to let them know how special they are!
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