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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. by Marianne Williamson — Analysis & Translation

2 min read English

Original Poem

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’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure 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 other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.”

Translation (Tsonga)

Ku chava ka hina lokukulu a hi leswaku a hi fanelanga. Ku chava ka hina lokukulu i leswaku hi ni matimba lama tlulaka mpimo. I ku vonakala ka hina ku nga ri munyama wa hina lowu hi chavaka ngopfu. Hi tivutisa, ndzi mani leswaku ndzi va wa vutlhari, wa ku saseka, wa vuswikoti na wa ku hlamarisa? Entiyisweni, u mani leswaku u nga vi? U n'wana wa Xikwembu. Ku tinyikela ka wena ka xitsongo a ku tirheli misava. A ku na nchumu lowu vonakaka hi ku hunguta leswaku van'wana va nga titwi va nga tshembeki eka wena. Hi velekeriwe ku kombisa ku vangama ka Xikwembu loku nga eka hina. A hi eka van'wana ntsena; i eka un'wana na un'wana. Kutani loko hi pfumelela ku vonakala ka hina ku voninga, hi nyika van'wana hi ku nga swi xiyi mpfumelelo wa ku endla sweswo. Loko hi ntshunxeka eka ku chava ka hina, ku va kona ka hina ku ntshunxa van'wana hi ku kongoma.

About the Poet

Marianne Williamson (Contemporary)

Marianne Deborah Williamson i muhlovo wa Amerika loyi a tsalaka tibuku ta ku tirhela hi wexe, a vulavula, naswona a ri mutirhisi wa tipolotiki. U sungule ntirho wakwe tanihi murhangeri wa moya eKereke ya Namuntlha eWarren, Michigan. U tsale tibuku to hlayanyana ta ku tirhela hi wexe, ku katsa na 'A Return to Love'.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Historical Context

Literary Form
Inspirational prose
When Written
1992
Background
The poem is often misattributed to Nelson Mandela, but it was written by Marianne Williamson in her book 'A Return to Love'. It addresses the fear of embracing one's full potential and the power within.

Sources: https://www.kirstymaynor.com/blog/our-deepest-fear-by-marianne-williamson, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/928-our-deepest-fear-is-not-that-we-are-inadequate-our, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Williamson

Detailed Explanation

Xivuriso lexi xa Marianne Williamson xi vulavula hi ku chava loku hi nga na kona ku nga ri ku va hi tsana, kambe ku va hi ni matimba lama tlulaka mpimo. Xi hlamusela leswaku hi chava ku vonakala ka hina ku tlula munyama wa hina, naswona hi tivutisa leswaku hi mani ku va hi va lava hlamarisaka. Xi khutaza ku twisisa leswaku hi vana va Xikwembu naswona ku tinyikela ka hina ka xitsongo a ku tirheli misava. Ku hunguta leswaku van'wana va nga titwi va nga tshembeki a ku na nchumu lowu vonakaka. Xi tlhela xi vula leswaku hi velekeriwe ku kombisa ku vangama ka Xikwembu loku nga eka hina, naswona a hi eka van'wana ntsena kambe i eka un'wana na un'wana. Loko hi pfumelela ku vonakala ka hina ku voninga, hi nyika van'wana hi ku nga swi xiyi mpfumelelo wa ku endla sweswo. Loko hi ntshunxeka eka ku chava ka hina, ku va kona ka hina ku ntshunxa van'wana hi ku kongoma.

Themes

  • Self-empowerment
  • Fear
  • Potential
  • Spirituality

Literary Devices

  • Metaphor: 'Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure' uses metaphor to express the fear of one's own potential.
  • Repetition: The phrase 'Our deepest fear' is repeated to emphasize the central theme.
  • Contrast: The poem contrasts light and darkness to explore inner potential versus fear.
  • Rhetorical question: 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' challenges the reader to reflect on self-worth.

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
Our belonging to us ya hina Awa
deepest most profound ku enta ngopfu diipest
fear worry, dread ku chava feer
is exists, be i iz
not no, negative a hi not
that which leswaku that
we us hi wee
are exist, be hi aar
inadequate not enough ku nga fanelanga inadikwate
powerful strong, mighty ku ni matimba paawerful
beyond further than ku tlula bi-yond
measure extent mpimo mezhure
light brightness ku vonakala lait
darkness absence of light munyama daarknes
most greatest ngopfu moost
frightens scares chavisa fraaitenz
us we hina us
ask inquire vutisa aask
ourselves we ourselves hina vini aawerselvz
who which person i mani hoo
am be ndzi aam
I me mina ai
to toward ku too
be exist ku va bee
brilliant very bright ku vonakala ngopfu brilyant
gorgeous very beautiful ku saseka ngopfu gorjuhs
talented gifted ku ni vuswikoti taalentid
and also na and
fabulous amazing ku hlamarisa faabyuhlus
Actually in fact entiyisweni Aakchuwali
you yourself wena yoo
You yourself wena Yoo
a one un' a
child offspring n'wana chaaild
of belonging to wa of
God deity Xikwembu Gaad
Your belonging to you ya wena Yor
playing acting ku tlanga pleying
small little xitsongo smaall
does performs a swi duz
serve help tirhela surv
the definite article wa thuh
world earth misava werld
There’s there is ku ni Therz
nothing not anything a ku na nchumu nuthing
enlightened informed ku vonakile inlaaytend
about concerning hi abowt
shrinking becoming smaller ku hunguta shringking
so therefore hikwalaho soh
other different van'wana uther
people humans vanhu peepul
won’t will not a va nge wohnt
feel sense tiva feell
insecure unsafe ku nga tshembeki insekyur
around near ekusuhi uhrownd
We us hina Wee
were was a hi wer
born given life velekiwa born
make create endla meyk
manifest show kombisa manifest
glory magnificence ku vangama gloory
within inside ndzeni with-in
It’s it is i Its
just only ku nga ri just
in inside ndzeni in
some a few van'wana sum
it’s it is i its
everyone all people un'wana na un'wana evry-wun
And also na And
as while loko az
let allow pfumelela let
our belonging to us ya hina awer
own personal ya hina vini own
shine glow ku voninga shain
unconsciously without awareness hi ku nga swi xiyi unkonshuslee
give offer nyika giv
permission consent mpfumelelo purmishun
do perform endla doo
same identical swo fana saame
As while loko Az
liberated freed ntshunxekile liberaytid
from out of ku suka frum
presence existence ku va kona prez-ens
automatically without thinking hi ku kongoma awto-matiklee
liberates frees ntshunxa liberayts
others other people van'wana uthers

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