Quote of the Day: Maya Angelou

©Wake Forest University/Ken Bennett

Maya Angelou, 1928–2014
Photograph by TOP reader Ken Bennett, used with permission

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

—Poet and author Maya Angelou, who died this morning at the age of 86 at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Only one of Ms. Angelou's many accomplishments is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the breakout book that made her lastingly famous. It is the first volume of a six-volume autobiography of the first forty years of her life and one of the great coming-of-age books written in English. Caged Bird recounts her life up to age 17. It is not for the faint of heart. The New York Times said this morning, "hallmarks of Ms. Angelou’s prose style included a directness of voice that recalls African-American oral tradition and gives her work the quality of testimony. She was also intimately concerned with sensation, describing the world around her...with palpable feeling for its sights, sounds and smells." 

I hope it is not disrespectful to torque this short post around to more direct relevance to us by noting that the above quote is very apropos for photographers. I always use the word "generic" to express what she means by "normal." But to be as non-normal as possible, in the way that is closest and dearest and most sensible to each of us specifically, is really the best way to aim at being "amazing" as a photographer.

Here are 18 more great Maya Angelou quotes for inspiration and reflection.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Ken Bennett: "Maya Angelou was a professor at the university where I work, and so I was able to watch and photograph her many times over the years. She had an amazing presence and power. It's a very sad day here."

Comments

[David Bennett]

A lovely quote and very inspiring. And balanced by one from Eric Hoffer who commented that with the breakup of tight and closed communities, man was free - free to feel inadequate.

[Bil Mitchell]

Sic Transit Gloria

[What I found intetedting is I had alays though her I was]

What I found intetesting is I had always though her doctoral degree was earned through attending colleges. I was not aware she was self taught. I am more impressed today than I was when I first heard of her.

[Peter Kiar]

Thank you for your quote of today.

[David Boyce]

Indeed a sad passing. Her poem, When you come, has been a favorite of mine for some time.

[cgw]

Communicating or "fitting in." She knew the power that came from understanding the difference.

[Ed O'Mahony]

Listening to Van Morrisson's song Angelou from his Into the Music album,I still have it on vinyl. Great song for this great lady. His live version at Montreux in 1980 is a classic, sax, trumpets, listen pause and remember Maya Angelou.

Ed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzwVSuU7oxQ