All of the significant battles are waged within the self.
— Sheldon Kopp, psychotherapist

Nelson Mandela wrote that.....just gorgeous and so very true.

actually it was used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech. As far as I remember it was first spoken by one of the first African American Educators, whose name I can't recall at the moment...

unfortanetly its a long process to come to that stage but people like this pioneers inspire and encourage us

hmm fast friend.....you remember who yet?? I am interested!

Sorry Antara, I don't. However, i remember it was mentioned in a movie I saw called Akeelah and the Bee, when the character played by Laurence Fishburne is using this text while training the little girl. (loved that movie)

The author of the quotation is Marianne Williamson, from her 1992 book, "Return to Love" (p. 165).

It was not written by Mandela, nor did he use in his 1994 inaugural speech, as you can see for yourself here:

http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html

Nor does it appear in any other of his published speeches (searchable on the same web site).

By all appearances, Ms. Williamson (http://marianne.com) is not an "early African-American educator".