I asked for the music, then invited it to enter my body and find the broken and sore places and restore them - Maya Angelou

Because I was really white and because a cruel fairy stepmother, who was understandably jealous of my beauty, had turned me into a too-big Negro girl, with nappy black hair, broad feet and a space between her teeth that would hold a number-two pencil.

I am convinced that most people do not grow up...We marry and dare to have children and call that growing up. I think what we do is mostly grow old. We carry accumulation of years in our bodies, and on our faces, but generally our real selves, the children inside, are innocent and shy as magnolias.

Remember, people will judge you by your actions not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold but so does a hard-boiled egg.