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The Famous Inspiring Quote that Nelson Mandela Never Actually Said…

The famous inspirational quote we're looking at today is one which has been quoted many times over the last 30 years, including several movies and political speeches.

It starts with:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

Although it is often misattributed to Nelson Mandela, it's actually originally written by Marianne Williamson in her 1992 best-selling book, “A Return to Love.” This misattribution is furthered by the fact that many speakers & politicians have attributed it publicly to Nelson Mandela.

Misattributions started as early as 1996 in newspaper column for “The Tennessean” of Nashville, Tennessee.

However, just to clear things up absolutely positively, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, he has never spoken these words.

Speakers & Politicians Who Incorrectly Attributed “Our Deepest Fear” to Nelson Mandela

  • Hillary Clinton
  • Mae C. Jemison (astronaut)
  • Johnnetta B. Cole (Former Spelman College president)
  • CNN 2017 “Heroes Awards Show”