“You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more”

“You are built not to be shrink down to less, but to blossom into more” is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey wrote on her website and has been credited with these lines since at least 2003:
 
“Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner’s manual your creator gave you and destroying your design. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.”
 
The motivational saying means that people are made to grow and blossom, not to shrink.
   
       
Wikipedia: Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Gail Winfrey (born Orpah Gail Winfrey, January 29, 1954) is an American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and ran in national syndication for 25 years from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the “Queen of All Media”, she was the richest African American of the 20th century and North America’s first black multi-billionaire, and she has been ranked the greatest black philanthropist in American history. She has also been sometimes ranked as the most influential woman in the world.
     
Oprah.com 
What I Know for Sure 
Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner’s manual your creator gave you and destroying your design. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.
 
Google Books
Empowering Your Life with Joy
By Gary McClain and Eve Adamson
Indianapolis, IN: Alpha
2003
Pg. 69:
Our purpose here is aptly reflected in these beautiful, joyous words from Oprah Winfrey: “Every time you suppress some part of yourself ... you are in essence ignoring the owner’s manual your creator gave you and destroying your design. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.”
 
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Motivational Quotes
@mo_15228584587
“You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more.” - Oprah Winfrey http://tqpage.com/31708
4:00 PM · May 26, 2008·Twitter Web Client
   
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Oprah Winfrey
December 12, 2011 ·
“What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.” - Oprah
   
Google Books
What I Know For Sure
By Oprah Winfrey
New York, NY: Flatiron Books
2014
Pg. 109:
What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.
 
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“You are built not to be shrink down to less but to blossom into more”
(Oprah Winfrey)
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9:14 AM · Dec 19, 2019·Twitter for Android