--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've learned that even when I have pains…" description: "\"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.\" — Maya Angelou" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png" --- # I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to… ![“I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png) > “I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.” [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in pain, one can choose not to become defined by it. **In simple terms:** Pain need not define you. Key Takeaway Choose identity beyond suffering. Themes resilience self‑definition empowerment Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - therapy - personal growth - public speaking Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate pain from identity? - What practices help you stay beyond pain? A Different Perspective Pain can still influence behavior despite conscious choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pains/) [Positive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-thinking/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-whenever-i-decide-something-with-an-open-heart-i/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I've learned that forgiving is one of the greatest gifts that I can give myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-forgiving-is-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-can/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-i-still-have-a-lot-to-learn/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [What I've learned from myself is that I don't have to be anybody else. Myself is good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/what-i-ve-learned-from-myself-is-that-i-don-t-have-to-be-anybody-else/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I've learned sometimes you just have to take the bad from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ve-learned-sometimes-you-just-have-to-take-the-bad-from-people/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I've learned one thing in politics. 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I'm thinking of making some more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cole/i-ve-learned-so-much-from-my-mistakes-i-m-thinking-of-making-some-more/) [Cheryl Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cole/) ## More by Maya Angelou > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Intelligence is a separate gift, for the benefit of students, so that they may think of themselves as intellectual and not very intelligent, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/intelligence-is-a-separate-gift-for-the-benefit-of-students-so-that/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-is-going-to-give-you-just-what-you-put-in-it-put-your-whole/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-write-me-down-in-history-with-your-bitter-twisted-lies-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-more-you-know-of-your-history-the-more-liberated-you-are/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life offers us tickets to places which we have not knowingly asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-offers-us-tickets-to-places-which-we-have-not-knowingly-asked-for/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that easy reading is damn hard writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/nathaniel-hawthorne-once-said-that-easy-reading-is-damn-hard-writing/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Sunday, if I'm lucky, I'll go to church or listen to some good spiritual advice on the television or on the radio. I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sunday-if-i-m-lucky-i-ll-go-to-church-or-listen-to-some-good/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Explore all 1,313 Maya Angelou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More I've learned quotes > [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [One or two years ago, I didn't know who I was on court and I used to swear a lot. But now I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/one-or-two-years-ago-i-didn-t-know-who-i-was-on-court-and-i-used-to/) [Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/) > [Technically, I've learned that having good legs and wind is good for being on stage. You have to be in shape and have endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/technically-i-ve-learned-that-having-good-legs-and-wind-is-good-for/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I really want people to know that I've worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today.. this didn't just happen overnight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-ve-worked-hard-very-hard-to-get/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [What I think I've learned is that you're never going to get it all right, and you can't obsess about having a fact wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/what-i-think-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-re-never-going-to-get-it-all/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I mean, it's amazing that I get to meet all these people. I've learned so much from all of them. I just worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-fanning/i-mean-it-s-amazing-that-i-get-to-meet-all-these-people-i-ve-learned/) [Elle Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-fanning/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I've learned over the years that when it comes to success, consistency is key. Consistent hard work that we may not like doing today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-when-it-comes-to-success-consistency/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I've kind of learned this about Joss Whedon. Never say never. I've learned that. I also have another rule about Joss Whedon. Never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-ve-kind-of-learned-this-about-joss-whedon-never-say-never-i-ve/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I've never ceased to be amazed at the survival skills of poor children. I've learned how much children can actually do for themselves if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-pearson/i-ve-never-ceased-to-be-amazed-at-the-survival-skills-of-poor/) Landon Pearson > [My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-young-cousin-if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-the-eons/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/what-i-ve-learned-about-that-word-is-context-where-the-world-is/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Short fiction is the medium I love the most, because it requires that I bring everything I've learned about poetry - the concision, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/short-fiction-is-the-medium-i-love-the-most-because-it-requires-that/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [As actors, we have to be able to keep ourselves open to feel, and that's a life lesson I think many people don't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-landin/as-actors-we-have-to-be-able-to-keep-ourselves-open-to-feel-and-that/) [Betsy Landin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-landin/) Browse all 1,132 I've learned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Angelou" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains-i-don-t-have-to-be-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I've learned" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains-i-don-t-have-to-be-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/maya-angelou-104_i-ve-learned_i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains_3030440.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.” — Maya Angelou", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maya Angelou", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've learned that even when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains-i-don-t-have-to-be-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-even-when-i-have-pains-i-don-t-have-to-be-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```