30+ Best Maya Angelou Quotes to Inspire Strength & Confidence
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was an American poet, author, and civil rights activist whose powerful words continue to inspire millions around the world. Best known for her groundbreaking autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Angelou used her voice to speak about courage, love, equality, and self-empowerment.
Throughout her remarkable life, she overcame adversity with grace and turned her pain into poetry that uplifted generations. Her work celebrates resilience, hope, and the beauty of being unapologetically yourself. From literature to public speaking, Maya Angelou became a global symbol of strength, compassion, and wisdom.
Her timeless words remind us to rise above fear, embrace kindness, and live with purpose — lessons that remain as powerful today as ever.
Here are some of the top, most motivational and inspirational quotes by Maya Angelou — perfect for blogs, Pinterest, Instagram captions, or daily inspiration posts:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
“Nothing will work unless you do.”
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
“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.”
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.”
