Last night, Alli and I watched Coach Carter, a “true life” film about a high school basketball team from a socioeconomically depressed area winning through and making more of themselves. Ken Carter, the coach of the team is an inspiring man, and like most films in the sports genre, this film is about achievement against the odds and defeating the hand life has dealt you.
However, the most striking moment of the film for me was the speech given by player Timo Cruz, when he paraphrased a poem by Marianne Williamson:
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. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Generally, I’m not a believer in this sort of thing, but this quote really struck me. It’s now printed out large and posted by my desk.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I loved that scene in the movie. Great quote. It did touch me when I was watching the movie.
I just took my daughter to see Akeelah and the BEE. This same quote was recited. I was inspirited about it again, because I too seen the movie Coach Carter.
I will frame this quote and the original and put it up in my home. I believe if only the wall could talk the things they would say. So I give my walls in my home words to live by.
That quote did move me but then when I saw the unedited version by Marianne Williamson I thought that was more stronger. It’s about being the child of God and all the things we could accomplish if we just let the light within us all shine for everyone and ourselves to see.
After watching the movie “Coach Carter” and having “Ken Carter” come to my school, I now have an inward look on life. Before, I was looking outward on life and realized, that was just it, I was looking out at everyone else instead of looking inward at me. This quote helped me redefine my life and I ant to say “Thank You, Marianne Williamson for writing it in “A Return to Love” and the movie “Coach Carter” for reiterating it.
i just got through watching coach carter today and i must say, that quote was what stood out the most in the movie. it was then when i started tearing. this movie was definately a very inspirational movie for me. i’m glad i’m not the only one who feels this way. i now too have the quote posted.
My emotions began to go down in tears when i when cruz stoodup andstrated to recite his deepest fear,and i said nothin could to soo touch like that emotional words by cruz
With this quote, I feel in my heart that by me posting it in my son’s room, and throughout the house, he will read it everyday and make better choices everyday in his life with school, peer pressure, and his future. I love this quote. Thank You!!
This quote also occurs in the movie “Akeellah and the Bee” with Lawrence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, and Keke Palmer.
i love the insight this poem gives about your inner power given by God. The bible says that greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world and this peom states the same. We should not hold back our true power or be afraid to be…
I have seen “Coach Carter” numerous times and each time this quote, from what I now know is an actual poem written by Marianne Williamson, has touched me each time. After watching the movie today, my husband and I decided to find out about it. We did a web search and found this site. The statements in this poem are profound and indeed makes you look within yourself for answers rather than blame all of the outwrd forces that we feel are holding us back everyday, it is ourselves instead. We have printed it out and will post it everywhere we canThank you marianne Williamson for this poem and for writing “A Return To Love”. Now I need to see ?Akeellah and the Bee? and her it recited another inspirational film about learning to love ourelves from within.
That was a great quote but I feel this one is even more stronger but on a different level. This one should be read by every athelete in the world, namely US Football NFL, College & everyone else
“Are you crazy? What is wrong with you? What’s wrong with all of you? Since when is winning not enough? Playing hard not enough? No, you have to humiliate your opponent. Taunt him after every score. You won four games last season. Four. What gives you the right to taint the game that I love with trash talk and taunting?”
ey to be honest this quote really made me open my eyes. Now am not afraid to express myself. When first saw the scene I rewind it so many times. Now I know what it means
this quote really made me wake and think about life. This impacted me deeply and gave me strengh within to keep trying, to keep going, to keep working harder to reach all my goals. This whole film was an insperation, but what impacted me most greatly was this one quote. This did’nt just inspire me, it SAVED me.
Those words were the most not just inspiring but the most touching words that i have ever herd. I watched that movie for the basketball not the drama, but now… Well it is un- explainable!!
I think they didn’t include the lines mentioning “son of god” part from the original poem in the movie, for the sake of the people who do not believe in or have very little faith in God. That even though they are not believers, they also still has a place and has their own light to share in this universe.
This is one inspirational quote that I think could help a lot of people if only people who hears it, shares it with other people not privileged enough to be able to view and understand the movie.
A really wonderful quote about transcending fear… I watched the movie coach Carter and it really touched my spirit.
Dis quote really is the truth in it makes me think alot about my life in what i got 2 do
i watched the film last night for like the 5th time great QUOTE my favourite quote now.