10 Inspirational Quotes From Literary Legend Maya AngelouHaving suffered from heart problems for some time, Angelou passed away at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C., this morning at age 86.

ByGeoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The world has bid goodbye today to Maya Angelou, 86, whose autobiographyI Know Why the Caged Bird Singsled her to become one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature.

Throughout her storied career, Angelou also delivered theinaugural poemfor Bill Clinton in 1993 (both grew up in rural Arkansas) and counted among her luminous friends and colleagues Dr. Martin Luther King and Oprah Winfrey.

In celebration of Angelou's groundbreaking achievements in fields as varied as poetry, education and civil rights activism, here's a look back at some of her most poignant remarks over the years:

Related:Steve Jobs' 13 Most Inspiring Quotes

1. "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights."

2. "You shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back."

3. "Nothing will work unless you do."

4. "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

5. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

6. "I've learned that making a "living' is not the same thing as making a "life.'"

Related:10 Inspirational Quotes from Navy SEAL Training

7. "Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."

8. "Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option."

9. "To grow up is to stop putting blame on parents."

10. "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 you."

Related:As Mark Zuckerberg Turns 30, His 10 Best Quotes as CEO

Wavy Line
Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Business Process

The Strategy You Need to Make Sure Your Company Can Keep Up in Today's Business World

Discover a superior alternative to a traditional business strategy that prioritizes adaptability, innovation and speed in execution, explores its benefits for entrepreneurs, see real-world scenarios and learn core principles and rules to propel organizations forward with clarity, simplicity and action.

Devices

This Versatile MacBook Is Only $299.97 During the Back-to-School Sale

Fid out how to get a MacBook Air that's sleek, portable, and reliable for a great price.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Thought Leaders

I Pitched 300 People a Day For 1 Year — and Learned This Impactful Entrepreneurial Lesson

After working myself to the bone pitching 300 people each day for one year, I came out of that experience as a new man — but surprisingly, an unhappier one. Here's what I learned.