Our deepest fear is . . .

February 3, 2006 11:34 AM

So I'm watching this cute little movie trailer . . . and I'm stunned by a quote in the middle of it: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." — Nelson Mandela. Or was it Marianne Williamson? Or does it really matter?
posted by spock (12 comments total)

Initially, I thought this was a parody of movies about spelling bees. That feeling was confirmed when I saw Booger.
posted by billysumday at 11:54 AM on February 3, 2006

Marianne apparently.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 12:01 PM on February 3, 2006

Googling turns up that she published in 1992, and it was in his 1994 inaugural speech. I think it's safe to assume that he was quoting. In any case, Mandela brought it to a wider audience, which is probably why it's attributed to him.

I learned that it continued "It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. But as we let our own light shine, we give permission for others to do the same. That is why we are, each of us, a child of God." This is the problem with getting your eddication from musicals.
posted by booksandlibretti at 12:09 PM on February 3, 2006

About that quote: I just heard that in a movie I saw the other day. What was it? I'm looking at my NetFlix queue, and the two that come to mind are Happy Accidents and The Interpreter. That's gonna drive me nuts.

Hmm. Google tells me it was Coach Carter. I wouldn't have picked that one. Weird.
posted by teece at 12:10 PM on February 3, 2006

Yeah, booksandlibretti. The 2nd link in the post includes links to two copies of the 1994 inaugural speech.
posted by spock at 12:31 PM on February 3, 2006

I think that's an excellent statement. Serious existential implications.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:13 PM on February 3, 2006

Yeah, it's all good until he asks her to take the blue or red pill.
posted by aether1 at 1:54 PM on February 3, 2006

The quote is widely misattributed even in South Africa, which has led Mandela to officially disown authorship.
posted by dhartung at 2:04 PM on February 3, 2006

It doesn't matter who said it, it's still wrong.

Nevertheless, I bet if you slap it on a Hallmark greeting card with a rainbow and a unicorn, some schmuck will buy it.
posted by Jatayu das at 3:03 PM on February 3, 2006

Send Mandela back to prison for copyright infringement!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
posted by thecollegefear at 10:21 PM on February 3, 2006

Speaking for myself: my deepest fear is really that I'm inadequate. Powerful beyond measure would be fine.
posted by bingo at 10:53 PM on February 3, 2006 [1 favorite]

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 frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
--Marianne Williamson
posted by gottabefunky at 4:25 PM on February 4, 2006