Marguerite Ann Johnson @ Maya Angelou

 

Prolific American author, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou
has died at 86.

She was known for her inspiring words that shed light onto the beauty
and injustices of the world. USA TODAY Network lists 13 of her best quotes:

1. "I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory."

2. "I am a Woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal Woman,
that's me."

3. "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."

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

5. "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."

6. "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."

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

8. "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on
both hands; you need to be able to throw something back."

9. "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."

10. "You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten,
smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us,
and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."

11. "One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential.
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We
can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest."

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

13. "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."

In her poem "Caged Bird," Angelou wrote:

"A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped

and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing."

Surrounded by greats.

In CNN's 2009 interview, Angelou spoke in the way that she came
to be famous for, each sentence a crescendo of emotion, a call to
everyone to act and to be better.

"Our country needs us all right now to stand up and be counted. We
need to try to be great citizens. We are necessary in this country, and
we need to give something -- that is to say, go to a local hospital, go
to the children's ward and offer to the nurse in charge an hour twice a
month that you can give them reading children's stories or poetry," she
said. "And go to an old folks' home and read the newspaper to somebody.
Go to your church or your synagogue or your mosque, and say, 'I'd like
to be of service. I have one hour twice a month.'

"You'll be surprised at how much better you will feel," she said. "And
good done anywhere is good done everywhere."










The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher.
'When you learn, teach. When you get, give' is one of the best lessons
from her,"

Some of Angelou's most powerful speeches
"Look where we've all come from ... coming out of darkness, moving
 toward the light," Angelou once said. "It is a long journey, but a sweet
one, bittersweet." 

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" was an international bestseller and
nominated for a National Book Award in 1970. It was her autobiography
and last contribution to literature.

"If you want to know what it was like to live at the bottom of the heap
before, during and after the American Depression, this exceptional book
will tell you," hailed British critic Paul Bailey.