Quotes on I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

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.

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.

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.

Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise.

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

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

I know why the caged bird sings.

The intensity with which young people live demands that they "blank out" as often as possible.

She comprehended the perversity of life, that in the struggle lies the joy.

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.

The world had taken a deep breath and was having doubts about continuing to revolve.

Without willing it, I had gone from being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being aware. And the worst part of my awareness was that I didn't know what I was aware of. I knew I knew very little, but I was certain that the things I had yet to learn wouldn't be taught to me at George Washington High School.

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.