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Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou Quotes

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Famous Maya Angelou Quotes

“Just do right. Right may not be expedient, it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul. It brings you the kind of protection that bodyguards can’t give you. So try to live your life in a way that you will not regret years of useless virtue and inertia and timidity. Take up the battle. Take it up. It’s yours. This is your life. This is your world.”

WorldWayGivingTryingYearsKindMaySoulVirtueRegretBattleProtectionYour SoulUselessLive Your LifeProfitableInertiaTimidityBodyguard
Author:Maya Angelou
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“I like good food. People want a certain taste, but when they're offered something else, they'll overeat. If they really are looking for chicken and someone gives them pork chops, they'll say, "I will have another." And that's because their satisfaction is not reached. So I thought I would make great food, but eat less of it. I tried it and I've taken off over 40 pounds.”

PeopleIfsWantGivingCertainTakenTasteSatisfactionPoundsChickensPorkGood FoodGreat FoodPork Chops
Author:Maya Angelou
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“Reduce your humanity through what Jules Feiffer called little murders. The minute I hear someone trying to demean me, I know that that person means to have my life. And I will not give it to them. When a person commits these little murders, and then you catch him or her at it, he or she might say, "Oh, I didn't mean it." But make no mistake: It is an assassination attempt.”

KnowsGivingTryingMeanLittlesPersonsMightHumanityMistakeMinutesMurderCommitAssassination
Author:Maya Angelou
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“If you have a napkin, you need another napkin to receive back all the blessings you'll get. And you keep giving. Then you need a towel to receive all the gifts. And you continue giving. Finally, you need a tablecloth. And you continue giving - not stupidly, but you give. And when you give, you finally have to move out and get a second house, and a third house and a fourth.It is a no - fail, incontrovertible reality: If you get, give. If you learn, teach. You can't do anything with that except do it.”

IfsNeedsGivingRealityMovingHouseTeachFailingBlessingThirdsFourthTowelsNot StupidNapkinsBlessing You
Author:Maya Angelou
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“The sisters and brothers that you meet give you the materials which your character uses to build itself. It is said that some people are born great, others achieve it, some have it thrust upon them. In truth, the ways in which your character is built have to do with all three of those. Those around you, those you choose, and those who choose you.”

PeopleWayGivingSaidCharacterUseThreeBornAchieveBrotherMaterialsBuiltYou ChooseBrothers And SistersThrust
Author:Maya Angelou
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“There were people who went to sleep last night, poor and rich and white and black, but they will never wake again. And those dead folks would give anything at all for just five minutes of this weather or ten minutes of plowing. So you watch yourself about complaining. What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWayGivingLastsNightBlackSleepWhitePoorWatchesRichFiveMinutesTenFolksComplainingWeatherLife LessonFive MinutesLast NightCan't ChangePlowing
Author:Maya Angelou
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“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.”

PeopleIfsLoveLifeGivingHomeHumorFunnyChoicesFamilyMorningCourageStreetsStrengthSmilePositivityStrangerLoved OnesEmpowering WomenFamily LoveGood MorningI SmileWomen Empowering WomenYour SmileGrinningJust SmileMy SmileRandom Acts Of KindnessKeep SmilingPhenomenal WomanBest SmileJust Keep SmilingFunny Good MorningSurlyAll SmilesEmpowering LoveYou Made Me SmileFunny SmileSmile To The WorldMake People SmileKickass WomenSmile Love
Book:The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou
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“If on Judgement Day I were summoned by St. Peter to give testimony to the used-to-be sheriff's act of kindness, I would be unable to say anything in his behalf. His confidence that my uncle and every other Black man who heard of the Klan's coming ride would scurry under their houses to hide in chicken droppings was too humiliating to hear. Without waiting for Momma's thanks, he rode out of the yard, sure that things were as they should be and that he was a gentle squire, saving those deserving serfs from the laws of the land, which he condoned.”

IfsMenGivingShouldWould BeLawUsedHouseWaitingBlackKindnessHeardLandUsed To BeThanksSavingGentleJudgementChickensPeterYardsUnclesSay AnythingTestimonyBehalfDroppingDeservingHumiliatingActs Of KindnessMommaSheriffsSerfsJudgement DaySt PeterSquires
Author:Maya Angelou
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“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”

GivingHelpingPowerfulCompassionAcceptingGratitudeBlessedGratefulCharityAppreciationHelping OthersThanksgivingThankfulGratefulnessThankful GratitudeGratitude And AppreciationI Am GratefulThanksgiving And GratitudeThanksgiving ThanksThanksgiving GratitudeGratitude And ThanksLove And GratitudeCharity And GivingInspirational GratitudeGratitude For HelpGiving To OthersLove GratitudeGrateful ThankfulGratitude For HealthGrateful And ThankfulShowing GratitudeThanksgiving Grateful
Book:Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
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“If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up. Lift a stranger up--lift her up. I would ask you, mother and father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father and son, lift someone. The very idea of lifting someone up will lift you, as well.”

IfsGivingWellsIdeasWould BeMotherCultureAsksFatherSonBrotherLoversDiversityDaughterSocial JusticeStrangerLiftsIf I CouldBrothers And SistersLiftingMother And FatherMother And DaughterFather And SonDaughter To Father
Author:Maya Angelou
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“I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at.”

PeopleGivingBelieveConditionsBrotherBirthDon't BelieveAccidentsMy BrotherBrotherhoodMy SisterBrothers And SistersSiblingSisterSisterhoodYour BrotherMy SiblingsBrotherlyBrotherly LoveBrother SisterYounger BrotherSiblings SistersSister LoveCute SiblingOther SisterSiblings BrothersSiblings Sisters And BrothersBaby SisterFunny Brother And SisterFunny Brother SisterCute Brother And SisterFunny SiblingFunny SisterSisters FriendshipCute Brother SisterCute SisterhoodCute SisterFunny BrotherInspirational SisterhoodFunny SisterhoodInspirational SisterSibling DaySister FriendRakhiBrother LoveCute BrotherLove My BrotherInspirational Brother And SisterSibling InspirationalSisters And Mothers
Book:Conversations with Maya Angelou
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“I do not believe that the accident of birth makes people sisters and brothers. It makes them siblings. Gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood are conditions people have to work at. It's a serious matter. You compromise, you give, you take, you stand firm, and you're relentless...And it is an investment. Sisterhood means if you happen to be in Burma and I happen to be in San Diego and I'm married to someone who is very jealous and you're married to somebody who is very possessive, if you call me in the middle of the night, I have to come.”

PeopleIfsGivingBelieveMeanMatterHappensNightHumanityMiddleConditionsSeriousBrotherBirthMarriedInvestmentAccidentsCompromiseFirmCall MeJealousBrotherhoodBrothers And SistersSiblingRelentlessSisterhoodMiddle Of The NightPossessiveStand FirmBurmaSan Diego
Author:Maya Angelou
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“I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”

LifeInspirationalNeedsGivingWisdomHandsAbleWomenInspiringCompassionLearningInspirational LifeLife PhilosophyReturnTrainingParentingCharityAfrican AmericanI've LearnedNever ForgetI Have LearnedStrong WomenVolunteerBlack WomenGiving BackEmpoweredEmpowering WomenSecond ChanceServing OthersPhenomenalForget YouPowerful WomenOpen HeartSassyTangledDonationEmpowered WomenWomen Empowering WomenInspirational WomenWise WomenInspirational Strong WomenDonateThings I've LearnedCatchersInspirational CharityStrong Women And LoveI Am StrongPhenomenal WomanI Am WomanStrong InspirationalGenerosity And GivingGiven A ChanceEmpowering LoveChances In LifeOrgan DonationVolunteer AppreciationVolunteer ServiceVolunteers Making A DifferenceGiven A Second ChanceVolunteering And ServiceInspiring VolunteerKickass WomenForget The PainBeing Strong In LifeInspirational Thank You
Author:Maya Angelou
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“If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.”

PeopleIfsLifeInspirationalGivingSelf EsteemCommunicationSmileValentineBlack WomenValentine's DayFamily LoveI SmileYour SmileGrinningJust SmileMy SmileHave A Good DayFunny Valentines DayValentine LoveValentines Day LoveMake You SmilePhenomenal WomanBest SmileRomantic Valentines DaySmile On Your FaceFunny ValentineJust Keep SmilingHappy ValentinesFunny Good MorningHappy Valentines DayMake Me SmileCute Valentines DayHappy Valentines Day FunnySurlyValentines Day CardsBe My ValentineAll SmilesYou Made Me SmileFunny Single Valentines DayValentines Day SpecialSmile MoreCute ValentineFunny SmileValentines GreetingsYou Make Me SmileSmile To The WorldBaby SmileHe Makes Me SmileCute SmileFebruary LoveMake People SmileCute Funny Valentines DayKickass WomenValentines Day GreetingsSmile LoveSweet SmileSmile And Tears
Book:The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou
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“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

LifeInspirationalGivingSoulSpiritualFoundResponsibilityKindnessBenefitsCharityPositivityYour SoulServantPhilanthropyGiving BackGiverService To OthersPhilanthropicGiving InGiving And ReceivingCommunity ServiceServant LeadershipServant LeaderGiving To CharityCharity And GivingGiving To OthersPhilanthropy GivingWomen LeadershipPhilanthropy InspirationBlack Women InspirationalSpiritual SoulGifts And GivingJoy Of Giving
Author:Maya Angelou
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