Oprah: Earlier you were telling me that your life is defined by principles. Maya: You'd be surprised what coming to grips with the fact that you will die does for you. Oprah: Is there nothing that frightens you? You never seem to be unsure about anything. If I hate homosexuals, I won't die.' They think they will increase their life by shunting misery onto somebody else, but it's just the opposite. Some think, 'If I marry this guy who's two inches taller than I am and who has a nice bank account, I won't die. That's why some people won't even go to the doctor. Oprah: I think many people live in complete denial of the fact that they are going to die. Oprah: So I think I've got this: You realized you would die-and not just intellectually, because we all know it intellectually. But who needs three days of rest? Please! The second day, you might die. Maya: I think a nap or a rest overnight is great. We think, 'How does she do it? I need a nap!' Oprah: That is why everyone marvels at your stamina-your ability to continue to be out there speaking, teaching and giving, giving, giving. So why can't I do everything? And what is this idea that I worked all day yesterday, so I'm tired today? I've never believed that. Oprah: Had you thought about doing that before but didn't have the courage?

Suppose I could sing for a living-that I could stop these two jobs as a waitress and a salesperson. Suppose I could teach dance at the theater in Cleveland. I thought, 'Just suppose I could choreograph a ballet.' And I did it. Maya: It was one of the most important crossroads in my life, because once I realized that no matter what, I would do this thing, the next step was to think, 'If I am going to do the most difficult and frightening thing-dying-is it possible that I could do some difficult and maybe seemingly impossible things that are good?'

Maya angelou quotes about death