Here are 75 Maya Angelou quotes to brighten up your day

Maya Angelou is a renowned poet and writer who lived a beautiful life.

She was born Marguerite Annie Johnson Angelou and her psuedonym came from combining her nickname and her husband’s surname.

Her beliefs and opinions are so powerful and inspiring. Her words will make you want to live a life that is filled with purpose and for this reason, many people including celebrities look up to her for motivation.

Even though she was abused and faced many trials in life, she always managed to rise up every time. Hers is a spirit that cannot be crushed, as her words say: “While one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated.”

Truly, she is the epitome of a woman who courageously practiced what she preached.

Life may have unfairly dealt with her but her strong will, wisdom and loving heart gave her the upper hand.

Below are some of her famous quotes that everyone can relate to.

Quotes about being a good person

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

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

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.

I think a hero is any person really intent on making his a better place for all people.

Be present in all things, and thankful for all things.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

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

If you get give, if you learn, teach.

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

Quotes about hard work, strength and courage

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

Having courage does not mean we are unafraid.

Nothing will work unless you do.

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

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.

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

Quotes about living life to the fullest

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

Determine to live life with flair and laughter.

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.

We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.

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

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: “I’m with you kid. Let’s go.

My mission in life is not to merely survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Quotes about love

Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.

If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

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.

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.

I know for sure that loves saves me and that it is here to save us all.

Motivational quotes to be successful

If you’re a human being, you can attempt to do what other human beings have done. We don’t understand talent any more than we understand electricity.

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.

I believe that every person is born with talent.

All great achievements require time.

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it.

I’m always disappointed when people don’t live up to their potential. I know that a number of people look down on themselves and consequently on everybody who looks like them. But that, too, can change.

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

Quotes about self realization

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

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

I created myself. I have taught myself so much.

You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody

We are only as blind as we want to be.

In all my work, in the movies I write, the lyrics, the poetry, the prose, the essays, I am saying that we may encounter many defeats—maybe it’s imperative that we encounter the defeats—but we are much stronger than we appear to be and maybe much better than we allow ourselves to be.

Quotes you need to face life’s adversities

Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances. You are a child of God. Stand up straight.

I got my own back.

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

Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.

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

Don’t let the incidents which take place in life bring you low. And certainly don’t whine. You can be brought low, that’s OK, but don’t be reduced by them. Just say, ‘That’s life.’

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.

Quotes about being a woman

I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.

A Woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.

I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.

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

I’ve never had a dislike for men. I’ve been badly treated by some. But I’ve been loved greatly by some. I married a lot of them.

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.

Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.

Quotes about life’s realizations

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.

Home is a refuge not only from the world, but a refuge from my worries, my troubles, my concerns. I like beautiful things around me. I like to be beautiful because it delights my eyes and my soul is lifted up.