Here are ten heart-lifting quotes about self-belief, perseverance, and creativity by Maya Angelou, inspirational poet and memoirist.
1. On reaching through and making a difference in another person’s life:
“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. On transforming ourselves to become something far more beautiful:
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
3. On bravery and confidence in our own hearts:
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
4. On finding true and lasting satisfaction in life:
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
5. On passion and purpose, and finding your direction:
“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.”
6. On pursuing what you love, rather than what makes a living:
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”
7. On believing in the power of one person – yourself:
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
8. On overcoming adversity through action and commitment:
“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.”
9. On compassion for your own being:
“If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?”
10. On the point of smiling, laughing, and playing every day:
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
Maya Angelou is lovingly remembered as a powerful writer, an inspirational woman, and perhaps most importantly, a person who helped others find their own light within.