Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Attribution ·227 of 348
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
They never said that.
What people say
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
What was actually said
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou — Attributed in press interviews c. 1971
Why it stuck
Angelou's actual phrasing begins with "I've learned that" — the line is in the series of essays she wrote as "I've learned" statements. Stripped of the frame, it becomes generic aphorism; in the series, it's personal testimony.
Angelou repeated the sentiment in many forms. The corporate-email version ignores the series it belongs to.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.