The world mourns the loss of author and poet Maya Angelou who died last week at the age of 86. Growing up during the Great Depression, she met life’s challenges and grew from them, never allowing her circumstance to determine the path of her life. She was a writer, teacher, playwright, composer, stage and screen producer, Hollywood director, performing dancer, singer, and activist.
According to her website, “She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being.”
Maya Angelou worked her up way from high school dropout to best-selling author. As a world-traveler, the multi-talented Angelou mastered five languages. She worked and became close friends with fellow civil rights activists, Malcolm X and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She served on two presidential committees, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and earned three Grammy Awards.
Maya Angelou’s words embodied lessons on living as well as life’s injustices. Her inspiring words taught courage, instilled hope and gave strength. She showed us that success comes from a kind heart, an open mind, hard work, and perseverance. Enjoy ten inspirational quotes from Maya Angelou that can inspire you to success.
1. “Nothing will work unless you do.”
2. “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.”
3. “As I look back on my life, I realize that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better.”
4. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
5. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
6. “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 you.”
7. “I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”
8. “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”
9. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
10. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”