Maya Angelou was one of the most influential African-American activists and authors of our time. Her words have inspired millions around the world, and today we are bringing you a collection of 35+ of her most inspirational quotes to lift your spirits. Read on to discover Maya Angelou’s wisdom, insight, and inspiration!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which tells the story of her childhood in the South during the 1930s and 40s.
Angelou was also a prolific writer of essays, poems, and plays. In addition to her literary accomplishments, Angelou was an outspoken advocate for racial equality and human rights. She worked with Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, and later served as a member of the Presidential Commission on International Women’s Year.
Angelou’s life and work were an inspiration to many people around the world.
Here are some of her most memorable quotes:
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 1 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. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/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-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 2 If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/If-you-dont-like-something-change-it.-If-you-cant-change-it-change-your-attitude-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 3 You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.
Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/You-may-encounter-many-defeats-but-you-must-not-be-defeated-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou: A Biography
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928. She was raised by her grandmother in rural Arkansas during the Depression era. When she was eight years old, she was sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend and as a result, stopped speaking for almost five years. At thirteen, she moved to San Francisco to live with her mother. It was there that she began writing and performing poetry.
Angelou’s first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), is an autobiography of her early life up to the age of seventeen. The book was well-received and made her one of the most celebrated authors of our time.
In addition to writing books, Angelou has also been active in the Civil Rights movement and worked as a journalist, actress, and singer. She has received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout her career.
Angelou is an inspiration to all who have faced adversity in their lives. Her quotes are filled with wisdom and hope. Here are some of our favorites:
Maya Angelou Quotes on Life
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 4 Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Everything-in-the-universe-has-a-rhythm-everything-dances-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 5 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. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ive-learned-that-people-will-forget-what-you-said-people-will-forget-what-you-did-but-people-will-never-forget-how-you-made-them-feel-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 6 A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-womans-heart-should-be-so-hidden-in-God-that-a-man-has-to-seek-Him-just-to-find-her-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 7 The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-first-time-someone-shows-you-who-they-are-believe-them-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 8 We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/We-may-encounter-many-defeats-but-we-must-not-be-defeated-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 9 Nothing can dim the light which shines from within. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nothing-can-dim-the-light-which-shines-from-within-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 10 I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. motivational quotes for instagram](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/I-can-be-changed-by-what-happens-to-me.-But-I-refuse-to-be-reduced-by-it-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou Quotes on Love
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 11 Life loves the liver of it. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Life-loves-the-liver-of-it-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 12 Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Love-is-like-a-virus.-It-can-happen-to-anybody-at-any-time-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 13 If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/If-you-have-only-one-smile-in-you-give-it-to-the-people-you-love-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 14 If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this is how we finally die. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/If-we-lose-love-and-self-respect-for-each-other-this-is-how-we-finally-die-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 15 The loss of young first love is so painful that it borders on the ludicrous. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-loss-of-young-first-love-is-so-painful-that-it-borders-on-the-ludicrous-576x1024.jpg)
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Maya Angelou Quotes on Happiness
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 16 When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness… all the good things. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/When-you-wish-someone-joy-you-wish-them-peace-love-prosperity-happiness…-all-the-good-things-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 17 We need Joy as we need air. We need Love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/We-need-Joy-as-we-need-air.-We-need-Love-as-we-need-water.-We-need-each-other-as-we-need-the-earth-we-share-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 18 All great achievements require time. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/All-great-achievements-require-time-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 19 Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hope-and-fear-cannot-occupy-the-same-space.-Invite-one-to-stay-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou Quotes on Strength and Overcoming Adversity
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 20 What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/What-lies-behind-us-and-what-lies-before-us-are-tiny-matters-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou Quotes on Self-Worth and Believing in Yourself
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 21 You are the only you that will ever be. Embrace it. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/You-are-the-only-you-that-will-ever-be.-Embrace-it-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou Quotes on Education
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 22 When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/When-you-learn-teach-when-you-get-give-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 23 When you know better you do better. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/When-you-know-better-you-do-better-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 24 Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Any-book-that-helps-a-child-to-form-a-habit-of-reading-to-make-reading-one-of-his-deep-and-continuing-needs-is-good-for-him-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 25 Education helps one case cease being intimidated by strange situations. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Education-helps-one-case-cease-being-intimidated-by-strange-situations-576x1024.jpg)
Maya Angelou Quotes on Friendship
“I think we’re here to help each other and not hurt each other.” – Maya Angelou
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 26 I think we're here to help each other and not hurt each other. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/I-think-were-here-to-help-each-other-and-not-hurt-each-other-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 27 You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/You-cant-use-up-creativity.-The-more-you-use-the-more-you-have-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 28 People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/People-will-forget-what-you-said-people-will-forget-what-you-did-but-people-will-never-forget-how-you-made-them-feel-576x1024.jpg)
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 29 If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Best motivational quotes ever](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/If-you-dont-like-something-change-it.-If-you-cant-change-it-change-your-attitude-576x1024.jpg)
Conclusion
Maya Angelou was an incredible woman whose words of wisdom continue to inspire us today. Whether you are facing a challenge or just need some motivation, these 35+ quotes from Maya Angelou will surely lift your spirits and give you the confidence to tackle any task. Even in difficult times, her inspiring words can help guide us and encourage us to keep pushing forward despite whatever obstacles may stand in our way. We hope that by reading these quotes from Maya Angelou, you have been able to get a little bit closer to achieving your goals and living life with joy!
What is Maya Angelou’s most famous quote?
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 30 Maya Angelou quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Maya-Angelou-quotes-150x150.jpg)
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
-Maya Angelou
What is Maya Angelou most famous text?
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 31 Nothing can dim the light which shines from within. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nothing-can-dim-the-light-which-shines-from-within-150x150.jpg)
Maya Angelou’s most famous text is her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”.
The book tells the story of her childhood and early adult years, up until she becomes a civil rights activist. It is considered an important work of African-American literature.
What was Maya Angelou last words?
![35+ Most Inspirational Maya Angelou Quotes To Lift Your Spirits 32 You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Maya Angelou Quotes](https://motivationword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/You-cant-use-up-creativity.-The-more-you-use-the-more-you-have-150x150.jpg)
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
These are the last words of the late, great Maya Angelou.
As someone who has inspired so many with her writing and her life, it is only fitting that her final words would be just as inspirational. Indeed, these words encourage us to tap into our own creativity and never give up on ourselves. We all have the power to create and to make something beautiful out of our lives. So let’s use up our creativity and make this world a better place!