Maya Angelou quotes are widely shared across many sources, offering guidance on resilience, self-worth, and the power of voice. Below is a concise collection of her most enduring thoughts, drawn from reputable compilations and Angelou’s own writings. Core quotes to know

• “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.”
• “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. Don’t complain.”
• “When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.”
• “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
• “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by 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.”
• “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
• “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
• “Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.”
• “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.”
• “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
• “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
• “Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.”
• “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
• “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”

Context and variations

• Angelou’s quotes are frequently recompiled with slight wording differences across books, speeches, and media outlets. The core messages about self-respect, courage, healing, and empowerment remain consistent across reputable collections. If you see a variant, it typically conveys the same sentiment with minor phrasing changes.
• For deeper insight, consider reading her autobiographies, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, as many quotes originate from or are inspired by passages in her literary work.

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