Maya Angelou Quotes

Better off dead than giving in; not taking what you want.

When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree by the river of truth, and tell the whole world - No, you move.

If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

I have my faults, but changing my tune is not one of them.

Of course, we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval.

I'd say that individuals are respected who stick to their convictions instead of doing whatever happens to be in fashion.

And what, incidentally, do you think integrity is? The ability not to pick a watch out of your neighbor's pocket? No, it's not as easy as that. If that were all, I'd say ninety-five percent of humanity were honest, upright men. Only, as you can see, they aren't. Integrity is the ability to stand by an idea.

Decide what you stand for. And then stand for it all the time.

I don't take no dive for nobody. Whaddya think I am, a tanker!

A man of conviction is often more to be desired than a man of experience.

Political courage is not political suicide.

I think it's wrong to compromise your values to fit in with the social climate in Washington, D.C. When it comes to spending, I'm not compromising. I don't care who, what, when or where, I'm not compromising.

I urge you to hold fast to your standards. I plead with you not to waver.

We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death.

I’m not going to cancel anything no matter how much the bastards scream.

I always stand up for what I believe and what I want to.

I will not give way because too many previous governments have backed down.

There are all sorts of people who will say disobliging things about me. I don't mind that. I would rather people said, 'This is a man that sticks to his principles, not a man who's worried about popularity.'

Aren't we supposed to be standing for something instead of falling for everything?

You won't see me compromising just because it is convenient for me to do so.

I won't take bullcrap from anybody.

I'm not going to apologise or regret anything I say.

Those who know me best know that my opinions don't change with the wind.

I'm not gonna change my principles. I'm not gonna change anything just to make money.

I'm always going to stand up for my beliefs and stand behind them.