10 Quotes from Maya Angelou to Celebrate International Women's Day

Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. Here are 10 of my favorite quotes from her.

• Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.

• Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

• It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.

• Nothing will work unless you do.

• I’m grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.

• I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.

• We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

• Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.

• You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise!

• I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

Maya Angelou

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Which one is your favorite? It’s hard to choose, isn’t it? I hope that you keep any (if not all) of these accessible to reread and contemplate. Today, tomorrow, always. Happy International Women’s Day!

With love,

Val.