Maya Angelou

10 quotes

“There are certain artists who belong to all the people, everywhere, all the time. The list of singers, musicians, and poets must include David the harpist from the Old Testament, Aesop the Storyteller, Omar Khayyam the Tent Maker, Shakespeare the Bard of Avon, Louis Armstrong the genius of New Orleans, Om Kalsoum the soul of Egypt, Frank Sinatra , Mahalia Jackson , Dizzy Gillespie , Ray Charles ... Celia Cruz ...All great artists draw from the same resource: the human heart, which tells us all that we are more alike than we are unalike. Maya Angelou Letter to My Daughter”

“I am capable of what every other human is capable of. This is one of the great lessons of war and life . As quoted in Goal Mapping : How to Turn Your Dreams into Realities (2006) by Brian Mayne, p. 84”

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry , but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh , eat , worry , and die , it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends . Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1993) p. 12.”

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. As quoted in Diversity : Leaders Not Labels (2006) by Stedman Graham, p. 224”

“A bizarre sensation pervades a relationship of pretense . No truth seems true. A simple morning's greeting and response appear loaded with innuendo and fraught with implications. ... Each nicety becomes more sterile and each withdrawal more permanent. Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976), chapter 5.”