Maya Angelou — Quotes

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

— Maya Angelou · This quote reflects Angelou's belief in the transformative power of storytelling, central to her memoir 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' (1969).

“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.”

— Maya Angelou · Angelou emphasized emotional impact and human connection throughout her speaking career and numerous interviews.

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

— Maya Angelou · This pragmatic wisdom emerged from Angelou's personal resilience and activism during the Civil Rights Movement.

“I am not tragically colored. I am merely a fragment of the Hughes I know.”

— Maya Angelou · Angelou expressed her literary identity and connection to the Harlem Renaissance tradition in essays and interviews.

“Singing is just like talking. It's the same thing.”

— Maya Angelou · Angelou reflected on her multifaceted career as a performer, dancer, and singer in her various autobiographical works.

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

— Maya Angelou · This metaphor for personal transformation became one of Angelou's most cited reflections on growth and resilience.

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

— Maya Angelou · Angelou offered this compassionate philosophy about self-improvement and moral development in her later speeches and writings.

“I sustain myself with the love of family.”

— Maya Angelou · Angelou spoke frequently about family bonds and their importance as sources of strength, particularly regarding her relationship with her son Guy.