In spite of everything that was done to me and my race, in spite of the adversity and the bitter moments, again we rise.

We need much less than we think we need.

You never get over the fear of writing.

In spite of everything that was done to me and my race, in spite of the adversity and the bitter moments, again we rise.

Of course, there are those critics - New York critics as a rule - who say, 'Well, Maya Angelou has a new book out and of course it's good but then she's a natural writer.' Those are the ones I want to grab by the throat and wrestle to the floor because it takes me forever to get it to sing. I work at the language.

Education is a process that goes on 'til death. The moment you see someone who knows she has found the one true way, and can call all the others false, then you know you're in the company of an ignoramus.

The best comfort food will always be greens, cornbread, and fried chicken.