From the Inaugural Speech of
Nelson Mandela
South Africa, 1994Our 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 child of God.
Your playing small doesnt serve the world.
Theres nothing enlighted about shrinking
so that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
Its not just in some of us; it is in everyone!
And as we let our own light shine,
we consiously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.Nelson Mandela
