"In order to be profoundly dishonest, a person must have one of two qualities: either he is unscrupulously ambitious, or he is unswervingly egocentric. He must believe that for his ends to be served all things and people can justifiably be shifted about, or that he is the center not only of his own world but of the worlds which others inhabit.” -- Poet, civil rights activist Maya Angelou (4-4-1928 - 5-28-2014) in "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" (1969), her autobiographical account of her life from age 3 - 16, describing coming of age in a racist, misogynist world as a talented, precocious Black girl.
This quote, despite being written over 50 years ago, describes people like the Malignant Loser to a "t", showing Angelou's grasp of human nature and life's realities, and how they manifest themselves from generation to generation. Hers was a wisdom born of experience, pain and joy.
(photo: Lissa Gotwals)
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