Top Ten Quotes: Maya Angelou

(In honor of Women’s History Month)

A legendary poet, one of the great voices of contemporary literature, civil rights activist, author of twelve best-selling books including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, actress, playwright, producer, director, historian, educator, outstanding orator, and Grammy Award winner, Dr. Maya Angelou is the quintessential Renaissance woman.

The recipient of more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees, Dr. Angelou has captivated and inspired millions of people across the globe. There is no doubt that world could never get enough of Dr. Maya Angelou.

Here are my favorite quotes by this extraordinary woman.

10. A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

9. I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.

8. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

7. 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.

6. If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.

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

4. Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.

3. Nothing will work unless you do.

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

1. You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Honorable mention:

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

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

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Achievement brings its own anticlimax.

Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently.

I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare.

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

Related Articles:

Top Ten Quotes: Mother Teresa

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Women's History Month Profile 2008

Women's History Month: March 2007

Top Ten Quotes: Mother Teresa

(In honor of Women’s History Month)

Nobel Peace Prize winner and world renowned humanitarian, Mother Teresa was one of the most outstanding examples of altruism and servant leadership in the history of the human race. She provided the world with a treasure trove of wisdom. Here are my ten favorite gems from Mother Teresa.

10. Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents, parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.

9. The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.

8. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

7. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

6. I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.

5. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

4. One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.

3. If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.

2. I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

1. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Honorable mention:

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us.

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.

Good works are links that form a chain of love.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.



Related Articles:

Commentary: 'I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar'

Women's History Month Profile 2008

Women's History Month: March 2007

Inside the Mind of Wendy Wilson

Wendy Wilson is the Director of Minority Advising and the ACE Fellowship Program Coordinator at Darton College in Albany, GA. We first met when I was speaking at Darton. Very quickly it became obvious that we had something in common—we were both determined to help people be successful. She and the students loved me, so she decided to book me for another engagement right on the spot. We’ve been friends ever since.

For the past several months I’ve been working on a series called 5 Qualities of Good Women that Could Make a Man Better. So, when I was talking to Wendy recently, I refused to pass up the opportunity to take a peek inside of her mind.

Al "The Inspiration" Duncan: Think of some of your good female students. What are some of the qualities they embody that can help all students out?

Wendy Wilson: I think they understand that education is not only on an academic level. Not so much on a classroom-teacher-student exchange. That it’s much broader and they understand that the best education that they will ever receive starts with them. They tend to be very engaged with folks outside of the classroom; understanding the overall importance of networking and being major contributors in the community.

AD: Can you sum up their philosophy about their education in one word?

WW: Accountability.

AD: What about your top male students?

WW: Let me see…how do I word this? With many male students they don’t get it right off the bat. My better male students are typically non-traditional students. They’ve experienced the world and realize that they can accomplish more and that the educational pursuit is something that no one can take away from them. So, [my top male students] tend to be older before they grasp the importance of their education.

AD: So is it simply a matter of maturity?

WW: Certainly.

"And just raise your standards or in some cases just develop some."

AD: Think of a great woman that you admire. Who comes to mind?

WW: Dorothy Height.

AD: Give me 3 qualities about Dorothy Height that could make, not only a man better, but the average woman better as well.

WW: Okay. Certainly I would have to say endurance. She reflected that throughout her many years; remaining committed to the cause. And she also strikes me as a very patient woman. How many did you want me to give you?

AD: Three. If you can think of one more that would be great. If not, those two are powerful.

WW: Certainly, she has high intellect.

AD: How could the average man develop more endurance?

WW: In regards to advice to men, I would say to become more centered and focused. And establish some goals. Certainly my concern right now, particularly with young African-American men, is that they need to look beyond their immediate world because sometimes their immediate circles are so low…

AD: Hmmm…

WW: …that they don’t know that there are other things they can seek and attain that will enrich and develop their lives. And so, just stop living in the world of immediacy, get centered, grounded, and from there begin to plan your life.

AD: Stop living in the world of immediacy, huh?

WW: Yes. And just raise your standards or in some cases just develop some. (laughter)

AD: (Laughter) I definitely consider you to be a good woman; a great woman. So, give me a defining characteristic about yourself.

WW: Oh, wow…hmmm…I would have to say that I’m constantly seeking growth and knowledge.

AD: How would some one cultivate that quality? How does one develop the discipline necessary to seek growth and knowledge?

WW: I think you have to get to a state where you’re seeking understanding of self.

AD: Can you expound on that?

WW: Come to peace with who you are at whatever juncture it is in life, plan accordingly, and strive to do better. Don’t berate or belittle yourself because you feel like you should be at another stage. Just come to an understanding of what circumstances brought you to that stage in life and embrace it for what it is. Then the journey begins in terms of the creator and you moving beyond that moment.

AD: Thanks for the wisdom, Wen. It’s been a pleasure as always.

WW: It certainly has been. Any time, Al, any time.

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5 Qualities of Good Women that Could Make a Man Better

Understanding The Fear Of Success

From Wildly Successful Women

Hey Students! Would you like to be featured in Elevate U and on the homepage of The Black Collegian Magazine?

I'm looking for successful student leaders and student entrepreneurs to interview for a segment of Elevate U called Inside the Mind. If you are interested then email your BRIEF bio, resume, and photo to Al @ Al The Inspiration Duncan

Nine Words Women Use

I would love to be able to take credit for this witty little piece, but I can’t. Someone forwarded it to me so I'm not sure who the original author is. Enjoy!

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end with fine.

4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5. Loud Sigh: This is actually not a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6. That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome.

8. Whatever: Is a women's way of saying !@#$ YOU!

9. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking: ‘What’s wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3.

Bonus from Al “The Inspiration” Duncan:

10. I shouldn’t have to tell you: When you hear this you have seriously screwed up something important to her. For the woman’s response refer to #6.

Men -- be warned and avoid the arguments. Women -- laugh 'cause y'all know it's true!

5 Qualities of Good Women that Can Make a Man Better Pt. 3

Continued from part 2


Question From a Reader

Q:Mr. Duncan, in the first part of your series on the qualities of good women, you mentioned that maturity plays a part in being responsible. Is it safe to say that since women mature faster then men it’s always going to be harder for men to be as responsible?

A:Huh?

You’re kidding, right?

No. It’s not safe to say that. In fact, it’s downright dangerous. The last thing an irresponsible person needs is another excuse not to step up.

There’s a difference between maturity that develops innately and maturity that is learned. One is a matter of genetics; the other, a matter of discipline.

Women hit puberty faster than men. That’s why a girl was probably the tallest person in your class from 5th-8th grade. But that wasn’t the case in high school, right?

Have you heard about someone that is 40 going on 10? How about someone that is 8 going on 28? Mental maturity develops at an individual-specific rate that is determined by a number of factors including an individual’s desires, thought pattern, and environment.

For years I was financially immature. I was clueless when it came to doing things like balancing a check book. That has nothing to do with genetics. Good financial habits just weren’t a part of my repertoire at the time. After accidentally bouncing one too many checks I decided to show some discipline, put in some work, and develop new habits.

That’s the kind of maturity that great women have in most, if not all, of the areas of their lives. That kind of maturity is synonymous with discipline.

Keep this in mind. It’s no easier for a self-disciplined individual to take on responsibility than it is for a lazy individual to take on responsibility. The former simply chooses to meet the challenge head on. The latter avoids the challenge.

Up next: Pt. 4- A Conversation with Wendy Wilson, Director of Minority Advising at Darton College

Related links:

Your Online Campus Advisor

Pregnant and Planning to Stay in College

Couldn't Get to Work On Time

5 Qualities of Good Women That Can Make a Man Better Pt. 2

Continued from part 1

“Tell us what it is to be a woman so that we may know what it is to be a man.”-Toni Morrison, Nobel Lecture, 1993

A few days ago, I walked into the Hertz Local Edition at 6121 Memorial Dr. in Stone Mountain, GA to return a car. Immediately, I was greeted with the usual warm smiles and a chorus of “Hi, Mr. Duncan! How are you today?” I get five-star customer service every time, without fail, at that location.

While waiting for her to finish my paperwork, the young lady who was helping me and I started talking about this article. As soon as I mentioned the title and the first quality, the other two women in the store got all excited.

“I know that’s right!”

“Men can definitely learn a thing or two about responsibility from us.”

At this point the store manager, a guy, chimes in: “He said ‘in general’. Women are more responsible in general, but not all women. Right, Mr. Duncan?”

Right.

Everybody has a lapse with at least one issue at some point in time. Anyone who claims otherwise is either lying or that person is a mannequin. He or she isn’t really living, just posing.

Are you always responsible when it comes to your health, eating habits, study habits, or spending habits? Of course not, because a person’s beliefs and desires can cause right action and effective decision making to get lost in the mix. For good women, however, these episodes of irresponsibility are normally sparse.

The process of convincing yourself or others to take on responsibility is simple. The effort required, however, is great. A surplus of diligence is required because a person’s hierarchy of beliefs and desires is fluid, not static. The strangest things can become important to people.

I remember being extremely late to a class because my friend swore up and down that he could beat me in Madden. (In case you don’t know, that’s a video game). I couldn’t let him get away with talkin’ all of that smack, right? Stupid.

My hierarchy of what I believed to be important and what I really wanted in the long run got tangled up in a web of emotions and ego. Guess who came along half-way through the game and convinced me to take my butt to class. It was my girlfriend, a good woman. Case in point.

Fortunately for me, nothing unrectifiable occurred. But how many times have you or somebody you know made an egregious error based on something trivial deemed to be of great importance?

Take a little time to determine your hierarchy of beliefs and desires at the moment of decision.

The following questions will help you distinguish between things that have fleeting importance and things that have lasting importance. As you read through the questions, keep in mind that consciously or unconsciously, good women go through a thought pattern similar to this.

1. What’s most important to me right now? In the grand scheme of things, how important is it?
2. Is there anything in my life more important than that? Am I being self-centered and selfish?
3. How is what I’m doing right going to impact what’s most important to me in the long run? Is that okay? Can I live with that?
4. Who else is this going to affect other than me? Is that okay? Can I live with that?

Using these questions will bring more clarity to the consequences of your choices and help to promote an increased sense of responsibility in you. Unless you are just a plain old knucklehead.

Up next: Part 3- Question from a Reader

5 Qualities of Good Women That Can Make a Man Better Pt. 1

(In honor of Women's History Month)

“The true worth of a race must be measured by the character of it’s womanhood.”
–Mary Mcleod Bethune

Recently I spoke at an all women’s college- probably the one that just popped into your mind. About 900 students showed up. They loved me. I loved them. It was a great gig.

Shortly thereafter, I delivered the same program at an all men’s college. Once again, it was a great gig. I loved them and they loved me. This time, however, less than a dozen students showed up! Can you say ugly?

Was it the marketing? Nope. Marketing was the same on both campuses.

Maybe the women wanted to see who this incredibly charming, handsome, and intelligent guy was. Yeah…I wish! (Don’t tell my wife I said that, okay?)

Actually, the women were just more on top of their game. That is a statement that I hear far too often. Nevertheless, many times it’s true.

GOOD women possess certain qualities that can make a man better. And yes, it is equally true that good men possess characteristics that can make a woman better. March, however, is Women’s History month. So, sit back and learn fellas. Watch the ladies shine.

1. Responsibility

Do you I really need to justify this word being on the list?

Sometimes it seems as if the world, especially my world, would have fallen apart many times had it not been for a good woman stepping up and either taking responsibility or helping me to see the importance of responsibility.

Shout out to my mom, Pamela Duncan.

How many times have you been beaten over the head with the word responsibility? Well, I won’t beat you with it. Just keep reading and learn how to beat your challenges with it.

People always say things to me like-

“Okay, Mr. Inspiration. I know I need more discipline, but where do I get it? I know I need to be more responsible. So, how do I develop responsibility?”

Although it may seem as if good women have a ‘responsibility gene’ that many men are missing, this is not the case. What you choose to take responsibility for is related to:

~Your propensity for delayed gratification
~Your beliefs and desires
~The level of your maturity

This is the age of instant gratification. Can you say- microwave? How about- instant messaging? And wouldn’t you love to retire before the age of 40?

Delayed gratification, also known as impulse control, is on the endangered species list. Possessing this master ability implies that you can manage your emotions and remain focused on what has lasting importance. This is where good women excel. The average Joe or Jane is constantly being distracted by something that has fleeting importance.

Being able to distinguish between fleeting and lasting importance is paramount to your success because…

The actions you take are based on what is most important to you at the moment of decision. Stop and think about that.

So, how do you inoculate yourself against the instant gratification virus? It’s much easier said than done, but it begins with correctly identifying as well as understanding your hierarchy of beliefs and desires. I'll show you how in part 2.