Quotes from Maya Angelou

She stands before the abortion clinic, confounded by the lack of choices. In the Welfare line, reduced to the pity of handouts. Ordained in the pulpit, shielded by the mysteries. In the operating room, husbanding life. In the choir loft, holding God in her throat. On lonely street corners, hawking her body. In the classroom, loving the children to understanding.

But they talked, and from the side of the building where I waited for the ground to open up and swallow me, I heard the soft-voiced Mrs. Flowers and the textured voice of my grandmother merging and melting.

Here, root yourselves beside me. I am that Tree planted by the River, Which will not be moved. I, the Rock, I, the River, I, the Tree, I am yours—your passages have been paid. Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again.

But you'll turn your back As you often do Yet I am your sons And your daughters too.

I keep on dying, Because I love to live.

Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave

Centered on the world's stage, she sings to her loves and beloveds, to her foes and detractors: However I am perceived and deceived, however my ignorance and conceits, lay aside your fears that I will be undone, for I shall not be moved.

You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.

She worked the thread through the flowered cloth as if she were sewing the torn ends of her life together.

If you're always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.

Humility says there were people before me who found the path. I'm a road builder. For those who are yet to come, I seem to be finding the path and they will be road builders. That keeps one humble. Love keeps one humble.