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[PHOTOS] Maya Angelou's 11 Most Powerful And Inspiring Quotes To Remember Her By

Best known for her poems and essays, Maya Angelou was a Renaissance woman. She died on Wednesday at the age of 86. Here are 11 of her most powerful quotes to remember her by.

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The legendary poet and activist Maya Angelou died on 28 May 2014 at the age of 86, leaving behind a body of work filled with wisdom and insight

Maya Angelou rose to fame in 1969 with her debut book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," and wrote seven autobiographies and many poems, one of which she read at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. Angelou's powerful words are not in danger of losing their relevance. Her brilliance, admired by generations, holds a particular resonance when viewed through the lens of youth. Angelou's best advice can teach us how to live our lives better.

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1. Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

2. History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

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3. You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.

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4. I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

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5. The love of the family, the love of one person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society. A massive, powerful society.

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6. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

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7. You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

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8. You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

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9. It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.

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10. Nothing will work unless you do.

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11. No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again and bring the dawn.

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BONUS: Angelou's iconic poem "Still I Rise"

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