My mom was a terrible parent of young children. And thank God - I thank God every time I think of it - I was sent to my paternal grandmother. Ah, but my mother was a great parent of a young adult. Maya Angelou adultchildgod Change image and share on social
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again. Maya Angelou couragefacehistory Change image and share on social
I'm happy to be a writer - of prose, poetry, every kind of writing. Every person in the world who isn't a recluse, hermit or mute uses words. I know of no other art form that we always use. Maya Angelou artformhappy Change image and share on social
I could fall in love with a sumo wrestler if he told stories and made me laugh. Obviously, it would be easier if someone was African-American and lived next door and went to the same church. Because then I wouldn't have to translate. Maya Angelou africanamericanchurch share on social
Like a pianist runs her fingers over the keys, I'll search my mind for what to say. Now, the poem may want you to write it. And then sometimes you see a situation and think, 'I'd like to write about that.' Those are two different ways of being approached by a poem, or approaching a poem. Maya Angelou approachfingerkey share on social
I love the song 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack. I was going to write that song, but someone beat me to it. Maya Angelou annbeatdance Change image and share on social
I liked to write from the time I was about 12 or 13. I loved to read. And since I only spoke to my brother, I would write down my thoughts. And I think I wrote some of the worst poetry west of the Rockies. But by the time I was in my 20s, I found myself writing little essays and more poetry - writing at writing. Maya Angelou 20sbadbrother share on social
For a person who grew up in the '30s and '40s in the segregated South, with so many doors closed without explanation to me, libraries and books said, 'Here I am, read me.' Over time I have learned I am at my best around books. Maya Angelou 30s40sbook share on social
Encouragement to all women is - let us try to offer help before we have to offer therapy. That is to say, let's see if we can't prevent being ill by trying to offer a love of prevention before illness. Maya Angelou encouragementillillness share on social
Growing up, I decided, a long time ago, I wouldn't accept any manmade differences between human beings, differences made at somebody else's insistence or someone else's whim or convenience. Maya Angelou acceptagobeing Change image and share on social