Maya Angelou

"I don't trust people who don't love themselves and tell me, 'I love you.' ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt."

"There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it."

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

"My life has been one great big joke,A dance that's walked,A song that's spoke,I laugh so hard I almost choke,When I think about myself."

"If I'm the people's poet, then I ought to be in people's hands - and, I hope, in their heart."

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."

"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

"There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it."

"I want all my senses engaged. Let me absorb the world's variety and uniqueness."

"I thank God I'm myself and for the life I'm given to live and for friends and lovers and beloveds, and I thank God for knowing that all those people have already paid for me."

"Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!"

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."

"I am overwhelmed by the grace and persistence of my people."

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."

"If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?"

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you."