Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you… — Maya Angelou | Printable Wall Art

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Words by Maya Angelou (1928-2014) — Poet and author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

About this quote

This line encourages personal growth without self-judgment. It suggests that we should act with integrity based on our current understanding, rather than feel guilt over past mistakes. As we learn and gain wisdom, our standards and behaviour should naturally evolve. It frames self-improvement as a continuous journey of learning rather than a demand for immediate perfection.

Widely attributed to Maya Angelou, this phrase frequently appeared in her interviews and public lectures. She often credited the sentiment to lessons learned from her mother and her own life experiences as a writer and activist.

People often hang this print in a study or classroom to encourage patience, resilience, and continuous learning.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.