log in name explanation

[iahnhiatm]

"I am human, nothing human is alien to me."

I have been extremely fortunate to hear Maya Angelou speak in person three times in my life.  In all her teachable moments, she  introduces a variation of the above quote.  Her translation is "I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me" and I have taken some license with it to become the acronym

Comments

FYI

[prezzey]

I'm here via stilljewish, I didn't want to make this comment there because it seemed rather off-topic and I was worried it might also seem rude (that's not my intent).

This a Latin maxim that originates with Terentius. The original version is homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. That's not to diminish Maya Angelou, who's a great poet IMO! There is very good reason why she might have quoted this maxim from him: Terentius was a slave (probably from Northern Africa) who was liberated by his owner, a rich Roman senator, and he went on to become a famous and celebrated author of plays.

So yes, this could be said to be an African saying, but it does trace back to a very specific African person.

Re: FYI

[iahnhiatm]

Thanks! Actually, when I think back over twenty years ago, I think she did attribute it to an African saying. Sorry for the misrepresentation.