Maya Angelou
(1928-2014)

African-American Poet, Civil Rights Leader

National Women's Hall of Fame
Living Legacy Award

1990 Academy of Achievement Achiever

2000 National Medal of Arts
2008 Lincoln Medal

2011 Presidential Medal of Freedom

birthdate: April 4
birthplace:
St. Louis, Missouri

QUOTES

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.

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.

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.

We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

The honorary duty of a human being is to love.

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.

"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."

The future is plump with promise."

"We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate --- thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising."

 

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