‘Nothing will work unless you do’—and 9 other awesome Maya Angelou quotes every empowered woman should know
Article By EEW Magazine Editors // Inspiration // Notable Quotes
Dr. Maya Angelou’s life inspired millions. A childhood victim of rape, a black woman born into poverty and segregation, she rose above it all to become a renaissance woman and cultural pioneer.
Though she died in 2014 at 86 years old, her words linger in our hearts, reverberate in our minds, and speak to our souls.
Many came to pay their last respects to the iconic leader at Wake Forest University on June 7, 2014 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty)
Here are 10 of our favorite quotes from the late author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” that help set us free, teach us to soar, and make us better on this sometimes rough journey through life. Every empowered woman needs to know them.
Quote #1 “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Quote #2 “I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.”
Quote #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.”
Quote #4 “God loves me. It still humbles me that this force which made leaves and fleas, and stars and rivers, and you, loves me—Maya Angelou. I can do anything and do it well. Any good thing, I can do it. That’s why I am who I am. Yes, because God loves me, and I’m amazed at it.”
Quote #5 “Nothing will work unless you do.”
Quote #6 “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
Quote #7 “Faith is the evidence of the unseen.”
Quote #8 “In all my work, I try to say, ‘You may be given a load of sour lemons, why not try to make a dozen lemon meringue pies?’”
Quote #9 “Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
Quote #10 “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
Dr. Angelou, who gave many commencement speeches and addressed academic and corporate events across the country, left us with countless wise sayings that we should all treasure and apply to our lives.