Her way with words captured the spectrum of the human experience from our highest highs to our lowest lows and all of the sometimes confusing feelings and moments in between.
I have selected my favorite ten quotes from Maya Angleou and explained what they have done for, inspired in, or simply helped articulated for me.
I hope you enjoy. And please remember that we are all better people for having lived in a world with Maya Angleou.
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1. 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.
This is one of my all time favorite lines in her famous poem, "I've Learned" and really just sums up a hugely important part of a being a good person and leading a successful life for me. I try to live my life everyday in a way that has a positive impact on other people. But here's the catch: it's rarely overt and never in a way that forsakes me. I strive to be a good enough person each day that just being myself is enough to encourage and inspire other.
2. You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
Attitude is everything. Happiness is a choice. There's a silver lining in every cloud. These all have similar messages but Maya's is more empowering and focuses on the individual: while we can't control or change the bad things that can sometimes happen unexplainably to good people, we can control our response.
3. 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.
Our lives are never-ending, unique masterpieces. Some parts of it awe-inspiring and uplifting so much that we forget we're human; some reduce us to feeling like the lowest, smallest forms of ourselves. Like
it or not, everything we experience impacts us so to the extent that you can choose to have as many of the good, uplifting experiences as you can
4. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
This is an earlier part of "I've Learned" but is worthy of its own mention. Again it's about attitude, and about not being to control everything, but maintaining a positive outlook on it all.
5. I’ve learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."
Another line from "I've Learned." For me it means that just going through the motions of existence doesn't mean a person has a fulfilling life. Having a life means knowing who you are, what you want, growing and changing, it means challenging yourself, loving another or others, and loving yourself.
6. 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.
We have the potential to be great but we have to find the drive and want and courage in ourselves to achieve this.
7. My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.
For me this articulates some of the things we need to push and let ourselves do in order to be complete humans. Really feel emotion: laugh and cry. Find balance: work and love. Love openly: be courageous.
8. Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
4. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
This is an earlier part of "I've Learned" but is worthy of its own mention. Again it's about attitude, and about not being to control everything, but maintaining a positive outlook on it all.
5. I’ve learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."
Another line from "I've Learned." For me it means that just going through the motions of existence doesn't mean a person has a fulfilling life. Having a life means knowing who you are, what you want, growing and changing, it means challenging yourself, loving another or others, and loving yourself.
6. 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.
We have the potential to be great but we have to find the drive and want and courage in ourselves to achieve this.
7. My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.
For me this articulates some of the things we need to push and let ourselves do in order to be complete humans. Really feel emotion: laugh and cry. Find balance: work and love. Love openly: be courageous.
8. Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
This ties a few of her quotes together for me: I hope to be courageous enough, and to be lucky enough to be with someone equally courageous, for this one day.
9. Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.
No matter what, never lose your spirit.
Good Maya Angelou Quotes
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