Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.

Only Lawyers and mental defectives are automatically exempt for jury duty.

There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant.

I am no one special. Just a common man with common thoughts. And I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect, I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived. I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and for me, that has always been enough. – Duke

The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.

Every time I go to the theater, … there’s something about the atmosphere, seeing something unfold live in front of an audience, that you can’t get out of your system.

Any time you think you have the game conquered, the game will turn around and punch you right in the nose.

I think I work harder on the pitch, I cover more ground and my passing is more accurate.

Some critics will write ‘Maya Angelou is a natural writer’ – which is right after being a natural heart surgeon.