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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child
of God. Your paying small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure
around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within
us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our
own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-- Marianne Williamson
"Return to Love" (hardcover p. 165, paperback pp. 190-191): http://www.marianne.com/MWourdeepestfear.html
For some reason this quote has been widely misattributed to Nelson Mandela's
1994 inaugural address, however these words do not appear in the
May 9, 1994 inaugural speech
nor the May 10, 1994 inaugural speech
nor any of the other speeches, statements and writings by Mr. Mandela. Thanks to John for
doing the research and letting me know.
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