If you didn’t know, Maya Angelou was quite the bad ass woman.
As a writer and poet she expanded the concept of an autobiography.
Maya Angelou’s work is powerful and raw, which is why her first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, has been both celebrated and challenged many times.
That’s part of the reason I have collected these Maya Angelou quotes for women.
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
It’s important to remember that you are already worthy.
Your self-worth is not defined or determined by anyone else.
It is not dependent on your accomplishments, or your failures.
You are worthy of life, of love and of happiness.
“You can not use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Creativity is not a commodity that you can hoard.
It’s a muscle that you exercise and it grows stronger.
Even if you feel you weren’t born with innate skills, you were born with creativity and you can grow that simply by being creative.
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
Allow yourself to be yourself.
If you are always trying to form yourself to fit inside a mold, you can miss out on all of the beautifully unique things about yourself.
Life would be incredibly dull if we were all just alike.
“If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?”
The way you treat yourself really sets the bar for how others treat you.
Treating yourself well also makes it easier to not accept inadequate treatment from others.
“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
You shouldn’t make decisions with your heart shut tight, or with anger.
When you keep your heart open, things are made clearer.
To keep your heart open is a brave act because it is to be vulnerable.
But opening your heart may inspire others to do so also.
It will also help ensure you make the right decision and not a rash one.
“Nothing will work unless you do.”
You can’t expect to get something if you put in nothing.
Just having the dream is not enough, you have to pay your dues and take action.
You have to make things happen.
“Ive learned that forgiving is one of the greatest gifts that I can give myself.”
Sometimes you don’t need to forgive someone because they deserve it – but because you deserve it.
Forgive others and forgive yourself.
Anger and guilt are heavy, so don’t carry them with you.
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
Failing at something is not the end.
If you fail you pick yourself back up, dust yourself off and continue along your journey.
Don’t give up – keep your spirit bright and keep going.
About Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is best known as an American poet, but she was a determined civil rights activist as well.
She worked with both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
In her youth she was the first black female cable car conductor in San Francisco.
She was the recipient of many awards including numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities from all over the world.
She also danced, sang, produced, acted and directed – which was unusual for her time.
But as they say, well behaved women rarely make history.
At the inauguration of US President Bill Clinton she recited one of her poems, On The Pulse of Morning.
Later, US President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well.
Sadly, she passed away on May 28, 2014 at the age 86.
At her funeral service one of her sons is quoted as saying: “She left this mortal plane with no loss of acuity and no loss in comprehension.”
Despite her failing health, she managed to author four new books in the last decade of her life.
She was truly a Phenomenal Woman.
If any of these Maya Angelou quotes for women resonated with you, I highly encourage you to look further into her works.
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3 Comments
Loved this information as well as your interpretations. Will go back and review some of the works of Maya Angelou. This was insouring
Great, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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