Some critics will write 'Maya Angelou is a natural writer' - which is right after being a natural heart surgeon.

I think all poems are commissioned. They just come to me without somebody outside commissioning them. The idea comes and I will live with them 'til I get it as close to what I mean. I've never been totally satisfied. I've come close a few times.

Modesty is a learned affectation. It's no good. Humility is great, because humility says, 'There was someone before me. I'm following in somebody's footsteps.'

Continue to be bold, courageous. Try to choose the wisest thing and once you've chosen the wisest thing go out and try to achieve it. Be it.

Still, when it looked like the sun wasn't going to shine anymore, God put a rainbow in the clouds.

The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.

Listen carefully to what country people call mother wit. In those homely sayings are couched the collective wisdom of generations.