Authors by alphabet: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Maya Angelou (Marguerite Ann Johnson)

(born 1928) An African-American author, poet, memoirist, actress, director, and civil rights activist, who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer". She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. Also she has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Achievement brings its own anticlimax.

All great achievements require time.

All men are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

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.

At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.

Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

Effective action is always unjust.