More from Oprah Winfrey

You're nothing if you're not the truth. I've made a living, I've made a life, I've made a fortune — all from being true to myself.

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Oprah Winfrey

Agnes Scott College Commencement 2017, 2017

The Story Behind This Quote

Oprah Winfrey delivered the commencement address at Agnes Scott College, a women's college in Decatur, Georgia, in May 2017. True to her reputation for combining personal revelation with universal wisdom, she spoke about authenticity, service, and spiritual practice. This quote was the centerpiece of her message. Oprah had built the most successful talk show in television history, a media empire, and a personal fortune estimated in the billions — and she attributed all of it to a single principle: being true to herself. In an era of carefully curated social media personas and strategic personal branding, the simplicity of the advice was almost radical. Don't perform. Don't pretend. Don't try to be what you think people want you to be. Just be the truth of who you are.

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