125 Inspiring Maya Angelou Quotes to Uplift Your Spirit

Maya Angelou has an ability that makes us feel emotional and makes us take actions as she provides light for our future through words of inspiration, advice, and personal strength. She was all about being human and she continued to fight for the rights of all people regardless of their race or sex throughout her life. There are 125 quotes by Maya Angelou in this book aimed at inspiring you to have hope even when things seem tough; welcoming difficult moments with composure while still facing up to them bravely.

1. The Essence of Courage and Strength

1.  “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
2.  “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
3.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
4.  “Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears.”
5.  “Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”

2. Love and Compassion: A Guiding Light

1.  “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
2.  “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
3.  “If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this is how we finally die.”
4.  “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”
5.  “I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all.”

 3. Embracing Self-Worth and Identity

 4. Wisdom for Life and Living

1.  “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
2.  “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.” “We need much less than we think we need.”
3.  “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
4.  “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

 5. Resilience: Rising Above Challenges

1.  “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”
2.  “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
3.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
4.  “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
5.  “Nothing will work unless you do.”

6. On the Power of Words and Language

1.  “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”
2.  “The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”
3.  “I make writing as much a part of my life as I do eating or listening to music.”
4.  “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
5.  “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.”

7. Finding Joy in Life’s Journey

1.  “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
2.  “We are only as blind as we want to be.”
3.  “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
4.  “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
5.  “I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

 8. On Freedom and Liberation

1.  “The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still.”
2.  “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
3.  “We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”
4.  “Freedom is never free.”
5.  “For Africa to me is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.”

 9. Embracing Change and Growth

1.  “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
2.  “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
3.  “If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.”
4.  “If you get, give. If you learn, teach.”
5.  “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

10. On Wisdom and Learning

1.  “When you know better, you do better.”
2.  “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
3.  “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
4.  “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
5.  “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.”

 11. The Importance of Kindness and Generosity

1.  “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
2.  “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
3.  “When you know better, you do better.”
4.  “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
5.  “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

 12. Embracing Diversity and Unity

1.  “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
2.  “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 their color.”
3.  “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
4.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
5.  “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”

 13. On the Power of Forgiveness

1.  “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
2.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
3.  “I do not trust people who don’t love themselves and yet tell me, ‘I love you.’ There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.”
4.  “Forgiveness is the act of returning to present time. And that’s why when one has become a forgiving person, and has managed to forgive, they are free.”
5.  “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”

14. On the Importance of Hope

1.  “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
2.  “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
3.  “I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.”
4.  “I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all.”
5.  “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

15. On the Strength of Women

1.  “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”
2.  “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.”
3.  “Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.”
4.  “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
5.  “I’m interested in women’s health because I’m a woman. I’d be a darn fool not to be on my own side.”

 16. Embracing Change

1.  “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
2.  “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
3.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
4.  “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
5.  “I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

 17. On Overcoming Fear

1.  “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
2.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
3.  “Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears.”
4.  “Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
5.  “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

 18. On the Power of Gratitude

1.  “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.”
2.  “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”
3.  “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”
4.  “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
5.  “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

19. The Essence of Humility

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.”
2.  “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
3.  “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
4.  “When you know better, you do better.”
5.  “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

 20. On Achieving Success

1.  “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
2.  “When you know better, you do better.”
3.  “We need much less than we think we need.”
4.  “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
5.  “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”

 21. Embracing Creativity and Innovation

1.  “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
2.  “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
3.  “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
4.  “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
5.  “The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

22. On the Value of Education

1.  “My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.”
2.  “Education helps one cease being intimidated by strange situations.”
3.  “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
4.  “Nothing will work unless you do.”
5.  “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”

23. The Importance of Justice

1.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
2.  “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”
3.  “We are only as blind as we want to be.”
4.  “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
5.  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

24. The Power of Faith and Belief

1.  “Faith is the evidence of the unseen.”
2.  “I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.”
3.  “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
4.  “I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all.”
5.  “I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

25. Embracing Life’s Journey

1.  “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
2.  “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.” “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”
3.  “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
4.  “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 language employed by Maya Angelou is a store of insight and power; they carry 125 quotations that mirror her grasp of life’s difficulties and humans spirit’s strength. Seek comfort and motivation from these words anytime you feel troubled as they act as a beacon which reflects upon your path. Sometimes rising up from failures; at other instance being brought back to grounds by humility – this cycle needs much courage but thank God it is possible for everyone including you since we all have these potentials for greatness waiting to diffuse within our beings. This is why each sunrise heralds an opportunity for one’s luminosity as was always displayed by the late great Maya Angelou in her time. This means that every day comes with a chance for light to emanate from our beings just like what Maya Angelou did every day while she was alive.