Quotes from book
Letter to My Daughter

Letter to My Daughter

Letter to My Daughter is the third book of essays by African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou. By the time it was published, Angelou had written two other books of essays, several volumes of poetry, and six autobiographies. She was recognized and highly respected as a spokesperson for black people and women, and had become "a major autobiographical voice of the time". Angelou had no daughters herself, but was inspired to write Letter as she was going through 20 years of notes and essay ideas, some of which were written for her friend Oprah Winfrey. Angelou wrote the book for the thousands of women who saw her as a mother figure, and to share the wisdom gained throughout her long life.


Maya Angelou photo

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

Variant: Be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud.
Source: Letter to My Daughter

Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo

“We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.”

We Had Him (2009)
Source: Letter to My Daughter

Maya Angelou photo

“Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood.”

Variant: Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous. It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood.
Source: Letter to My Daughter

Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo

“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face.”

Source: Letter to My Daughter

Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo
Maya Angelou photo

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