Sorry, That Nelson Mandela Quote Is Fake

Don't fall for it.

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Nelson Mandela
Lerato Maduna / Reuters

Nelson Mandela

On Twitter, the following inspirational quote has been misattributed to Nelson Mandela since the former South African president and anti-apartheid icon passed away on Dec. 5 at 95:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

Slate and CNN point to a 2011 New York Times article that says some people have always thought this statement is a line from his 1994 inaugural address, but it is actually from a best-selling self-help book published two years prior called A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson. How it came to be associated with the world leader is “a mystery,” the newspaper wrote.

But if you are looking for a real, inspiring Nelson Mandela quote to share on social media, here is one:

“Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”

MORE: Mandela’s Extraordinary Life: An Interactive Timeline

PHOTOS: An Extraordinary History: Mandela’s Life in Pictures