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 doesn't serve
the world. There's nothing
enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel
small around you. 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 permission to other people
to do the same. As we are
liberated from our own fear, our
presence automatically liberates
others.

Excerpt from South Africa's President
Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech