I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.

I believe most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise.

Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.

You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you're for the right thing, then you do it without thinking.

The needs of a society determine its ethics.

At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.