"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 playing small does not serve the world.There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Read by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 Inaugural Speech

Written by Marianne Williamson