In the words of Maya Angelou: Quotes and poems

Things to Do

""You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

"I know for sure that love saves me and that it is here to save us all."

"No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again and bring the dawn."

"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom." "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"

"Your skin like dawn Mine like musk One paints the beginning of a certain end. The other, the end of a sure beginning." -- "Passing Time"

"I have found that mong its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."

"The love of the family, the love of one person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society. A massive, powerful society."

"In diversity there is beauty and there is strength."

"Lift up your eyes upon This day breaking for you. Give birth again To the dream." -- "On the Pulse of the Morning"

"It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody."

"It's in the click of my heels the bend of my hair the palm of my hand the need of my care . . . phenomenal woman that's me." -- "Phenomenal Woman"

"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."

"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love."

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."

""My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."

"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."

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."

"You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise." -- Still I Rise

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude about it."

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Author Maya Angelou (R) and Dorothy Irene Heigh (C) pose for a group photograph during the 2002 Uncommon Height Gala March 20, 2002 in Washington, DC. The National Council of Negro Women celebrates womens history month by honoring outstanding African American women and highlighting the achivements of Dr. Height. (Photo by Manny Ceneta/Getty Images)

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