"...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, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of 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're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

This passage is commonly mis-attributed to Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Address.

It actually comes from 'A Return To Love' (1992) by Marianne Williamson

Not only was it not written by Mandela, but it is not quoted in either of his two Inaugural Speeches:

the first given on 9th May 1994 at Cape Town

see: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html

the second given on 10th May 1994 at Pretoria

see: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugpta.html

The African National Congress web site homepage: http://www.anc.org.za

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"Several years ago, this paragraph from A RETURN TO LOVE began popping up everywhere, attributed to Nelson Mandela's l994 Inaugural Address. As honored as I would be had President Mandela quoted my words, indeed he did not. I have no idea where that story came from, but I am gratified that the paragraph has come to mean so much to so many people."
Marianne Williamson

see: http://www.marianne.com/

Reiki Pages
GUEST BOOK

From:

A RETURN TO LOVE
by
Marianne Williamson