"The moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

Character

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Insight & Reflection

When Maya Angelou speaks about character, it invites us to pause and reflect on our own journey. How often do we consider the subtle impacts of character in our daily lives? This thought-provoking perspective challenges conventional wisdom and encourages a deeper understanding of ourselves.

About Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Maya Angelou

"You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."

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"It is a quiet truth that he who inspires courage in a single soul has led a monumental campaign — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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More about Character

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

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"It is a unyielding truth that the moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain."

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