Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate

Achievement, All Quotes, Attitude, Determination, Perseverance May 19th, 2007

7 Responses to “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate”

1. John F. Says:
   May 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 am

   Nice quote, and that you for sharing it. I thought you might be interested in knowing where it really came from. It is widely misattributed on the Web and elsewhere to Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inaugural address. A quick search through that very speech on the ANC’s official web site confirms that the quotation isn’t there (URL below).

   As it turns out, the author of the quotation is Marianne Williamson, from her 1992 book, “Return to Love” (p. 165).

   Just to be extra sure, I wrote to the ANC (info@anc.org.za) asking about this very quote, and their representative Duncan Harford confirmed my suspicions:

   — begin include message —

   From: “dharford”
   To: “J. Finlayson-Fife”
   Subject: Re: Our Deepest Fear
   Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 07:47:57 +0200

   Hello John

   We are aware that these words have for some years now been attributed to Nelson Mandela on the internet. We do not know how this happened

   These words appear neither in the May 9, 1994 inaugural speech
   (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html),

   nor the May 10, 1994 inaugural speech
   http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugpta.html),

   nor any of the other speeches, statements and writings by Mr. Mandela
   (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/).

   Regards

   Duncan

   — end included message —

2. Corey Says:
   May 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 am

   Thanks John… I didn’t know this.

   Actually I’m a big Marianne Williamson fan. I’ve seen her speak a few times and just didn’t know it was a quote from her.

   Appreciate you taking the time to point out this error.

3. Corey Says:
   May 23rd, 2007 at 11:56 am

   I’ve corrected the Quote above.

4. Jessie James Says:
   November 14th, 2007 at 1:23 am

   Thanks foir this great quote. It says so much about us.

5. IluvQuotes Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 1:03 pm

   I thought this has a Nelson Mandela quote as well… Good to know it’s true source…

6. baMbie Says:
   January 5th, 2008 at 5:43 am

   very inspiring..

7. me Says:
   June 10th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

   our deepest fear is not htat we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. it is our light not our darkness that most frightens. we ask our selves who am i to be briliant gorgeous talented fabulous? actually who are you not to be. you are a child of god. your playing small does not serve teh world. there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won’t feel insecure around u. we are all meant to shine as children do. we were born to make manifest the glory of god tht is within us. its not just in some of us, its in everyone. and as we let our own light shime we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. as we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

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