Caged Birds Quotes - Page 2

• Islam was like a mental cage. At first, when you open the door, the caged bird stays inside: it is frightened. It has internalized its imprisonment. It takes time for bird to escape, even after someone has opened the doors to its cage.

  Ayaan Hirsi Ali

  Doors, Bird, Islam

  Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2008). “Infidel”, p.382, Simon and Schuster

  53 Copy quote

  Show source

• Ritie, don't worry 'cause you ain't pretty. Plenty pretty women I seen digging ditches or worse. You smart. I swear to God, I rather you have a good mind than a cute behind.

  Maya Angelou

  Cute, Smart, Swear To God

  Maya Angelou (2012). “The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou”, p.55, Modern Library

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Prayer, Heart, Praying

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joanne M. Braxton (1993). “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.102, University of Virginia Press

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• Of all the needs (there are none imaginary) a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied, if there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshaking need for an unshakable God. My pretty Black brother was my Kingdom Come.

  Maya Angelou

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  MAYA ANGELOU (1969). “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS”

  12 Copy quote

  Show source

• I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at commensurate speed.

  Maya Angelou

  Life, God, Responsibility

  Maya Angelou (2012). “The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou”, p.94, Modern Library

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult.

  Maya Angelou

  Girl, Growing Up, Southern

  1969 I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, opening section.

  57 Copy quote

  Show source

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

  Maya Angelou

  Life, Choices, Fifteen

  1970 I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, ch.31.

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• "And when you had made sure of the poor little fool," said my aunt - "God forgive me that I should call her so, and she gone where YOU won't go in a hurry - because you had not done wrong enough to her and hers, you must begin to train her, must you? begin to break her, like a poor caged bird, and wear her deluded life away, in teaching her to sing YOUR notes?"

  Charles Dickens

  Love, Teaching, Aunt

  Charles Dickens (2009). “David Copperfield”, p.395, ReadHowYouWant.com

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• Tell me why the caged bird nutters against its prison bars, and I will tell you why the soul sickens of earthliness. The bird has wings, and wings were made to cleave the air, and soar in freedom in the sun. The soul is immortal it cannot feed upon husks.

  Randolph Sinks Foster

  Air, Wings, Bird

  7 Copy quote