QuoteProject
My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.
Maya Angelou
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Embrace intolerance towards ignorance while being compassionate towards those who struggle with literacy.

In this quote, Maya Angelou emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between ignorance and illiteracy. She advocates for a mindset that rejects ignorance, which stems from a lack of knowledge or awareness, while promoting understanding and compassion towards individuals who are illiterate, as they may face challenges beyond their control. This reflects a broader philosophy of education and empathy toward others' circumstances.

Themes

EducationUnderstandingLiteracyIgnoranceCompassion

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about educational reform, one could use this quote to highlight the need for empathy towards learners.

More from Maya Angelou

If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?
Maya AngelouRead
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 AngelouRead
The white American man makes the white American woman maybe not superfluous but just a little kind of decoration. Not really important to turning around the wheels of the state. Well the black American woman has never been able to feel that way. No black American man at any time in our history in the United States has been able to feel that he didn't need that black woman right against him, shoulder to shoulder-in that cotton field, on the auction block, in the ghetto, wherever.
Maya AngelouRead
I dreamt we walked together along the shore. We made satisfying small talk and laughed. This morning I found sand in my shoe and a seashell in my pocket. Was I only dreaming?
Maya AngelouRead
I know that I'm not the easiest person to live with. The challenge I put on myself is so great that the person I live with feels himself challenged. I bring a lot to bear, and I don't know how not to.
Maya AngelouRead
I think Clinton, after getting into office and into Washington, was shocked at being bludgeoned. So he spent time trying to be all things to all people - one way guaranteed not to be successful or respected in a lion's den. You can't just play around with all those big cats - you've got to take somebody on.
Maya AngelouRead

Similar quotes

A book is completed only when it is finished by a reader.
Colum MccannRead
We mistake being able to get lots of information from everywhere very quickly with actually getting knowledge.
Margaret MacmillanRead
When I'm documenting, for example, a story on women in Afghanistan, I will do a huge amount of research and a lot of time on the ground just getting to know the women before I even start shooting.
Lynsey AddarioRead
As parents, the most important thing we can do _x000D_ is read to our children early and often. Reading _x000D_ is the path to success in school and life. When _x000D_ children learn to love books, they learn to love _x000D_ learning.
Laura BushRead
When children attend schools that place a greater value on discipline and security than on knowledge and intellectual development, they are attending prep schools for prison.
Angela DavisRead
When we grew up and went to school_x000D_ There were certain teachers who would_x000D_ Hurt the children any way they could_x000D_ By pouring their derision_x000D_ Upon anything we did_x000D_ Exposing every weakness_x000D_ However carefully hidden by the kids.
Roger WatersRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.