American - Poet | April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014
The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.
Maya Angelou
ChangeMindRoadDownNeedCenter
I am never proud to participate in violence, yet I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves that we can be ready and able to come to our own defense when and wherever needed.
I AmProudCareEnoughViolenceOwn
I know that I'm not the easiest person to live with. The challenge I put on myself is so great that the person I live with feels himself challenged. I bring a lot to bear, and I don't know how not to.
LiveGreatMyselfChallengePerson
Hold those things that tell your history and protect them. During slavery, who was able to read or write or keep anything? The ability to have somebody to tell your story to is so important. It says: 'I was here. I may be sold tomorrow. But you know I was here.'
HistoryTomorrowSlaveryStoryYou
Whenever I'm around some who is modest, I think, 'Run like hell and all of fire.' You don't want modesty, you want humility.
FireHumilityThinkHellYouRun
Shakespeare - I was very influenced - still am - by Shakespeare. I couldn't believe that a white man in the 16th century could so know my heart.
HeartManBelieveWhiteKnowStill
If you were the President of the United States or the Queen of England - you couldn't have a person who would be more protective than my mother was for me. Which meant really that I could dare to do all sorts of things.
MotherQueenMeYouPersonDare
Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise.
OpportunityScarcityBecauseMost
As far as I knew white women were never lonely, except in books. White men adored them, Black men desired them and Black women worked for them.
WomenMenBlackLonelyWhiteNever
I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water.
WaterCompassionSweetBelieveWill
The sadness of the women's movement is that they don't allow the necessity of love. See, I don't personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.
LoveWomenTrustLove IsRevolution
All of us knows, not what is expedient, not what is going to make us popular, not what the policy is, or the company policy - but in truth each of us knows what is the right thing to do. And that's how I am guided.
TruthI AmThe Right ThingRightUs
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