In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, why has Mrs. Flowers remained for Angelou "the measure of what a human being can be"?

       Mrs. Flowers has been the measure of what a human being can be to Maya because she was benign and an important teacher to Maya. Maya Angelou has said, “Black people say, when you get, give; when you learn, teach.” Maya learned important life lessons and also gained confidence from Mrs. Flowers. Because Mrs. Flowers was gentle Maya could learn from her and be gentle herself. The measure of what a human being can be is helping others and being their role models like Mrs. Flowers was to Maya.