Maya Angelou

"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."

"If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love."

"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."

"You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody."

"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."

"Eating is so intimate. It's very sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you're inviting a person into your life."

"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"

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

"I'm happy to be a writer - of prose, poetry, every kind of writing. Every person in the world who isn't a recluse, hermit or mute uses words. I know of no other art form that we always use."

"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."

"Poetry puts starch in your backbone so you can stand, so you can compose your life."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"It is this belief in a power larger than myself and other than myself which allows me to venture into the unknown and even the unknowable."

"I want to thank you, Lord, for life and all that's in it. Thank you for the day and for the hour, and the minute."

"The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise."

"There's a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure truth."

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass."

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

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her."