“When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.”
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American author and poet
As quoted by Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey's paraphrase:
When people show you who they are, believe them.
Source: [When people show you who they are, believe them, http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/when-people-show-you-who-they-are-believe-them-video, 2016-01-19, Oprah's Lifeclass, Oprah, Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Network, 2011-10-26, 1, 13, 90, en-us, Oprah Winfrey]
Source: [Book club finale, http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/One-of-Dr-Maya-Angelous-Most-Important-Lessons_1, 2016-01-19, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah, Winfrey, 1997-06-18, 45, en-us, Oprah Winfrey]
“When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.”
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American author and poet
Enya (1961) Irish singer, songwriter, and musician
Song lyrics, Amarantine (2005)
Tony Blair (1953) former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Michael Ignatieff, "Why Are We In Iraq? (And Liberia? And Afghanistan?)", New York Times, 5 September, 2003.
2000s
Joe Dante (1946) film director
"Fun, Yes, But By No Means Civilized": Interview with Joe Dante (Part 2) https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/fun-yes-but-by-no-means-civilized-interview-with-joe-dante-part-2 (July 8 2009)
Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist and entertainer
On Leon Trotsky Saturday Evening Post (6 November 1926) - note that Rogers specifically spelled the word "dident"
Context: I bet you if I had met him and had a chat with him, I would have found him a very interesting and human fellow, for I never yet met a man that I dident like. When you meet people, no matter what opinion you might have formed about them beforehand, why, after you meet them and see their angle and their personality, why, you can see a lot of good in all of them.
Tyra Banks (1973) American model, author and television personality
"Tyra Banks: Success as Fashion Model and Businesswoman Make Her a Role Model as Well". (October 2006) Jet. p. 63.
“Why are there stars when there are no people? O God, why don't you just extinguish them?”
Karel Čapek (1890–1938) Czech writer
Cool my brow, ancient night! Divine and fair as you always were — O night, what purpose do you serve? There are no lovers, no dreams. O nursemaid, dead as a sleep without dreams, you no longer hallow anyone's prayers. O mother of us all, you don't bless a single heart smitten with love. There is no love.
R.U.R. (1920)
Rick Warren (1954) Christian religious leader
Source: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?