What Maya Angelou Quotes Are Best For Graduation?

2025-08-30 04:50:19 293

3 Answers

Ulysses
Ulysses
2025-09-03 20:42:25
Graduation season always gets me a little teary — in a good way — and Maya Angelou has a handful of lines that feel made for the moment. If I were picking a quote for a commencement speech, a cap decoration, or a heartfelt card, these are the ones I keep returning to.

'We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.' I love this for a speech opener: short, rhythmic, and honest. It tells grads that setbacks are part of the route, not the destination. I once used it in a friend’s senior slideshow and it landed perfectly — people nodded like they’d been given permission to be imperfect.

'You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.' Stick this in a yearbook note if you want to be both empathetic and empowering. For a quote that’s personal and actionable, consider 'My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive...' from snippets of her essays and interviews — it’s expansive, ambitious, and oddly soothing when the future feels like a big fog.

If the vibe is joyful defiance, 'Still I Rise' offers lines that are practically built for caps and posters: 'Does my sassiness upset you? / Why are you beset with gloom?' And for a gentle reminder about integrity, '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.' That one always makes me think of the small kindnesses that stick with you longer than any trophy. Use the quotes to match the moment — bold for speeches, gentle for cards, cheeky for caps — and trust that Angelou’s voice makes almost any sentiment feel steady and true.
Aidan
Aidan
2025-09-04 05:23:40
I still get a little giddy when I pull a Maya Angelou line out of my mental pocket at graduations. The right phrase can lift the whole room. One of my favorites to handwrite in a card is, 'If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.' It’s practical and quietly fierce, perfect for someone staring down a big unknown.

For a valedictory speech, I like 'Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.' It’s short but roomy — people can paste their own stories into it. Years ago I tucked that line into a speech I gave at a tiny ceremony; after, several folks told me they’d scribbled it into their planners. If you want something that honors resilience, try 'We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.' And if you want to wink at the graduates’ future egos, the 'people will forget what you said...' quote makes for a beautiful, humanizing closer. Pair any of these with a personal anecdote or a specific wish, and it stops sounding like a cliche and starts sounding like a small blessing.
Jude
Jude
2025-09-05 02:40:24
When a graduation cap is within arm’s reach, I’m the person who scribbles lines from Maya Angelou everywhere — bookmarks, sticky notes, the inside cover of a planner. Quick list of my go-tos that fit cards, speeches, or cap decals: 'We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.'; 'You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.'; 'My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive.'; 'Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.'; and the classic, 'I've learned that people will forget what you said… but people will never forget how you made them feel.' I like mixing the serious with the tender — for example, pair the resilience lines with a memory from college (that all-nighter that turned into lifelong friends) or a tiny push (try the internship, send the email). If you want something punchy for a cap, 'Still I Rise' has great single lines. For cards, pick something that reads like a personal wish rather than a wall quote — that’s when these lines really sing.
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