Phenomenal Words: Life Lessons from Maya Angelou

[nectar_dropcap color]M[/nectar_dropcap]aya Angelou wasn't just a writer—she was a force. Poet, memoirist, activist, and wise soul, her words have this incredible ability to touch hearts, spark courage, and ignite change. She didn't just live life; she deeply understood it, revealing profound truths about strength, resilience, and the beauty of the human spirit. I don’t quote her as often as the others, but her sentiment seems to stick.

Here are some of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes. [divider line_type="Full Width Line" line_thickness="1" divider_color="default" custom_height="20"]

“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.”

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This quote is a masterclass in emotional intelligence. It reminds us that human connection is about kindness and empathy—a vital lesson for anyone seeking to lead, teach, love, or simply be understood. *

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“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”

Angelou's approach to personal agency and perspective is simple but not simplistic. This quote speaks to the power of inner transformation—recognizing when external change isn’t possible, and reclaiming control by adjusting one’s mindset. It’s about adaptability without surrendering one's soul. *

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“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

[nectar_text_inline_images media_type="images" images="6009" image_size="large" image_effect="none" media_roundness="10px" text_color="#000000" image_loading="default" line_reveal_by_space_text_effect content_alignment font_style="h1" font_size="3vw" max_width text_direction="default"]This quote speaks directly to the need for self-expression. Angelou gives voice to the internal pressure that builds when one’s truth, pain, or creative spark remains unspoken. Whether it’s a personal history, a trauma, or an idea aching to be shared, the act of silencing oneself can be a source of real suffering. This quote validates the urgency of storytelling—not just as art, but as healing. *[/nectar_text_inline_images] [divider line_type="Full Width Line" line_thickness="1" divider_color="default" custom_height="20"]

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

One of Angelou’s most quoted lines challenges the tendency to rationalize red flags or make excuses for harmful behavior. Instead, it calls for honesty and discernment—trusting actions over intentions and saving ourselves from the pain of false hope. *

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“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.”

Bold, unapologetic, and empowering—this quote captures Angelou’s fierce belief in self-determination, especially for women. It celebrates confidence, agency, and the refusal to be passive in the face of adversity. There’s grit in this message, a challenge to meet life head-on and claim space with strength and purpose. *

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