A favorite quote

I am a fan of good quotes.  So I thought that I'd share with you one of my current favorites.  I hope that I can post a favorite quote on a  regular basis.


Marianne Williamson, in her book, A Return to Love: Reflection on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", wrote

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 [holy, who am I to be virtuous, who am I to presume that  I could be a saint]?"*  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the [the Kingdom of God].*  There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  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 other people permission to do the same.  As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

* I paraphrased the text here, but I believe that I am still representing an authentic interpretation of her words.