A legendary author, poet, activist and all around inspiring woman, Maya Angelou touched the lives of many through her work. In remembrance of her incredible legacy left behind, read through for some of Angelou's most inspiring and uplifting quotes.

"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 don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

"It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself: to forgive. Forgive everybody."

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

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

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"If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

"A wise woman wishes to be no one's enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone's victim.”

“‎The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible.”

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

"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.”

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

"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 something back.”

"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good.”

“Nothing will work unless you do."

"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.”

"Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”

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"I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

"No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

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"If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased."