Maya Angelou quotes about mortality

all I had to do, really had to do, was stay black and die. Nothing could be more interesting than the first, or more permanent than the latter.

Sister, in this country a Negro is always about to get killed, so that ain't nothing. But you tell your husband that a black man was ready to lay down his life for you. That's all.

I came from a race used to violence and habituated to loss.

And every goodbye ain’t gone.

Because I love to live.

’Cause tired don’t mean lazy

But ain’t I lucky I can still breathe in.

I keep on dying again.

I’m the rustle in the autumn leaves.

I will not deign to die.

Don’t bring me no rocking chair.

Be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.

I am convinced that most people do not grow up. We find parking spaces and honor our credit cards. We marry and dare to have children and call that growing up. I think what we do is mostly grow old.

I answer the heroic question, “Death, where is thy sting?” with “It is here in my heart, and my mind, and my memories.”

We carry accumulation of years in our bodies and on our faces, but generally our real selves, the children inside, are still innocent and shy as magnolias.

I find surcease from the entanglement of questions only when I concede that I am not obliged to know everything.

I answer the heroic question, “Death, where is thy sting?” with “It is here in my heart and mind and memories.”

At eleven years old, death is more unreal than frightening.