James A. Baldwin Quotes

Top 85 wise famous quotes and sayings by James A. Baldwin

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James A. Baldwin Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from James A. Baldwin on Wise Famous Quotes.

James A. Baldwin quotes: Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters? Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?
James A. Baldwin quotes: Recognizing a problem doesn't always bring a solution, but until we recognize that problem, there can be no solution. Recognizing a problem doesn't always bring a solution, but until we recognize that problem, there can be no solution.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Whatever white people do not know about Negroes reveals, precisely and inexorably, what they do not know about themselves. Whatever white people do not know about Negroes reveals, precisely and inexorably, what they do not know about themselves.
James A. Baldwin quotes: You don't need numbers; you need passion, and this is proven by the history of the world! You don't need numbers; you need passion, and this is proven by the history of the world!
James A. Baldwin quotes: The real victim of bigotry is the white man who hides his weakness under his myth of superiority. The real victim of bigotry is the white man who hides his weakness under his myth of superiority.
James A. Baldwin quotes: It is only because the world looks on his talent with such a frightening indifference that the artist is compelled to make his talent important. It is only because the world looks on his talent with such a frightening indifference that the artist is compelled to make his talent important.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become one's key to the experience of others. The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become one's key to the experience of others.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A society must assume that it is stable, but the artist must know, and he must let us know, that there is nothing stable under heaven. A society must assume that it is stable, but the artist must know, and he must let us know, that there is nothing stable under heaven.
James A. Baldwin quotes: You want to write a sentence as clean as a bone. That is the goal. You want to write a sentence as clean as a bone. That is the goal.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I'm beginning to think that maybe everything that happens makes sense. Like, if it didn't make sense, how could it happen? I'm beginning to think that maybe everything that happens makes sense. Like, if it didn't make sense, how could it happen?
James A. Baldwin quotes: The betrayal of a belief is not the same thing as ceasing to believe. If this were not so there would be no moral standards in the world at all. The betrayal of a belief is not the same thing as ceasing to believe. If this were not so there would be no moral standards in the world at all.
James A. Baldwin quotes: An American Negro, however deep his sympathies, or however bright his rage, ceases to be simply a black man when he faces a black man from Africa. An American Negro, however deep his sympathies, or however bright his rage, ceases to be simply a black man when he faces a black man from Africa.
James A. Baldwin quotes: At four o'clock in the morning, when everyone is drunk enough, then extraordinary things can happen. At four o'clock in the morning, when everyone is drunk enough, then extraordinary things can happen.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I can't be a pessimist, because I am alive. I can't be a pessimist, because I am alive.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Love is like the lightning, and your maturity is signaled by the extent to which you can accept the dangers and the power and the beauty of love. Love is like the lightning, and your maturity is signaled by the extent to which you can accept the dangers and the power and the beauty of love.
James A. Baldwin quotes: If the relationship of father to son could really be reduced to biology, the whole earth would blaze with the glory of fathers and sons. If the relationship of father to son could really be reduced to biology, the whole earth would blaze with the glory of fathers and sons.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I am certainly convinced that it is one of the greatest impulses of mankind to arrive at something higher than a natural state. I am certainly convinced that it is one of the greatest impulses of mankind to arrive at something higher than a natural state.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Everything in life depends on how that life accepts its limits. Everything in life depends on how that life accepts its limits.
James A. Baldwin quotes: To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A ghetto can be improved in one way only: out of existence. A ghetto can be improved in one way only: out of existence.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself. I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The determination to outwit one's situation means that one has no models, only object lessons. The determination to outwit one's situation means that one has no models, only object lessons.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A liberal: someone who thinks he knows more about your experience than you do. A liberal: someone who thinks he knows more about your experience than you do.
James A. Baldwin quotes: One can only face in others what one can face in oneself. One can only face in others what one can face in oneself.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The purpose of education ... is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions. The purpose of education ... is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions.
James A. Baldwin quotes: And love will simply have no choice but to go into battle with space and time, and furthermore, to win. And love will simply have no choice but to go into battle with space and time, and furthermore, to win.
James A. Baldwin quotes: All of Africa will be free before we can get a lousy cup of coffee. All of Africa will be free before we can get a lousy cup of coffee.
James A. Baldwin quotes: To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage. To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Talent is insignificant. I know a lot of talented ruins. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but, most of all, endurance. Talent is insignificant. I know a lot of talented ruins. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but, most of all, endurance.
James A. Baldwin quotes: There is a 'sanctity' involved with bringing a child into this world: it is better than bombing one out of it. There is a 'sanctity' involved with bringing a child into this world: it is better than bombing one out of it.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The trick is to love somebody ... If you love one person, you see everybody else differently. The trick is to love somebody ... If you love one person, you see everybody else differently.
James A. Baldwin quotes: To be with God is really to be involved in some enormous, overwhelming desire, and joy, and power which you cannot control, which controls you. To be with God is really to be involved in some enormous, overwhelming desire, and joy, and power which you cannot control, which controls you.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Everything depends on how relentlessly one forces from experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give. Everything depends on how relentlessly one forces from experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A man's balance depends on the weight he carries between his legs. A man's balance depends on the weight he carries between his legs.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Rage cannot be hidden, it can only be dissembled. This dissembling deludes the thoughtless, and strengthens rage and adds, to rage, contempt. Rage cannot be hidden, it can only be dissembled. This dissembling deludes the thoughtless, and strengthens rage and adds, to rage, contempt.
James A. Baldwin quotes: To defend oneself against a fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced. To defend oneself against a fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced.
James A. Baldwin quotes: When human rights are abused on a grand scale, the broth of purity boils and feeds the rebellion of a new order. When human rights are abused on a grand scale, the broth of purity boils and feeds the rebellion of a new order.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I will no longer take anyone's word for my experience. I will no longer take anyone's word for my experience.
James A. Baldwin quotes: To act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger. To act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger.
James A. Baldwin quotes: We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it. We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it.
James A. Baldwin quotes: If you think too far ahead, if you even try to think too far ahead, you'll never make it. If you think too far ahead, if you even try to think too far ahead, you'll never make it.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The only thing that white people have that black people need, or should want, is power-and no one holds power forever. The only thing that white people have that black people need, or should want, is power-and no one holds power forever.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The white man discovered the Cross by way of the Bible, but the black man discovered the Bible by way of the Cross. The white man discovered the Cross by way of the Bible, but the black man discovered the Bible by way of the Cross.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Writing is a political instrument. Writing is a political instrument.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it. Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it.
James A. Baldwin quotes: It is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent or even hostile to the French. It is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent or even hostile to the French.
James A. Baldwin quotes: In order to have a conversation with someone you must reveal yourself. In order to have a conversation with someone you must reveal yourself.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory. The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The future is like heaven, everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go there now. The future is like heaven, everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go there now.
James A. Baldwin quotes: When one begins to live by habit and by quotation, one has begun to stop living. When one begins to live by habit and by quotation, one has begun to stop living.
James A. Baldwin quotes: It seems to be typical of life in America ... that the second generation has no time to talk to the first. It seems to be typical of life in America ... that the second generation has no time to talk to the first.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Hatred destroys the person who hates. Hatred destroys the person who hates.
James A. Baldwin quotes: After my best friend jumped off the bridge, I knew that I was next. So-Paris. With forty dollars and a one-way ticket. After my best friend jumped off the bridge, I knew that I was next. So-Paris. With forty dollars and a one-way ticket.
James A. Baldwin quotes: If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving. And, after all, one can give freedom only be setting someone free. If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving. And, after all, one can give freedom only be setting someone free.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Then I buckled up my shoes, and I started. Then I buckled up my shoes, and I started.
James A. Baldwin quotes: You cannot fix what you will not face. You cannot fix what you will not face.
James A. Baldwin quotes: One day, to everyone's astonishment, someone drops a match in the powder keg and everything blows up. One day, to everyone's astonishment, someone drops a match in the powder keg and everything blows up.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Life is more important than art; that's what makes art important. Life is more important than art; that's what makes art important.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours. Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I am aware that no man is a villain in his own eyes. I am aware that no man is a villain in his own eyes.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative. I've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative.
James A. Baldwin quotes: One writes out of one thing only-one's own experience, One writes out of one thing only-one's own experience,
James A. Baldwin quotes: Man cannot live by profit alone. Man cannot live by profit alone.
James A. Baldwin quotes: You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you. You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Every human being is an unprecedented miracle. Every human being is an unprecedented miracle.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Being in the pulpit, was like being in the theatre; I was behind the scenes and knew how the illusion worked. Being in the pulpit, was like being in the theatre; I was behind the scenes and knew how the illusion worked.
James A. Baldwin quotes: All racists are irresponsible. All racists are irresponsible.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Every legend, moreover, contains its residuum of truth, and the root function of language is to control the universe by describing it. Every legend, moreover, contains its residuum of truth, and the root function of language is to control the universe by describing it.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Employment is my right my destiny. Employment is my right my destiny.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Great art can only be created out of love. Great art can only be created out of love.
James A. Baldwin quotes: If you're afraid to die, you will not be able to live. If you're afraid to die, you will not be able to live.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Drive to the heart of every answer and expose the question the answer hides. Drive to the heart of every answer and expose the question the answer hides.
James A. Baldwin quotes: If all you want to do is make money, the very last thing you need is imagination. If all you want to do is make money, the very last thing you need is imagination.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The American idea of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white. The American idea of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A devotion to humanity is ... too easily equated with a devotion to a Cause, and Causes, as we know, are notoriously bloodthirsty. A devotion to humanity is ... too easily equated with a devotion to a Cause, and Causes, as we know, are notoriously bloodthirsty.
James A. Baldwin quotes: One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own. One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Remember, to hate, to be violent, is demeaning. It means you're afraid of the other side of the coin to love and be loved. Remember, to hate, to be violent, is demeaning. It means you're afraid of the other side of the coin
to love and be loved.
James A. Baldwin quotes: You've got to tell the world how to treat you. If the world tells you how you are going to be treated, you are in trouble. You've got to tell the world how to treat you. If the world tells you how you are going to be treated, you are in trouble.
James A. Baldwin quotes: Experience is a private, very largely speechless affair. Experience is a private, very largely speechless affair.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I think Americans are terrified of feeling anything. I never met a people more infantile in my life. I think Americans are terrified of feeling anything. I never met a people more infantile in my life.
James A. Baldwin quotes: It is astonishing that in a country so devoted to the individual, so many people should be afraid to speak. It is astonishing that in a country so devoted to the individual, so many people should be afraid to speak.
James A. Baldwin quotes: I conceive of God, in fact, as a means of liberation and not a means to control others. I conceive of God, in fact, as a means of liberation and not a means to control others.
James A. Baldwin quotes: It is hard for anyone under twenty to realise that death has already assigned them a number, which is going to come up one day. It is hard for anyone under twenty to realise that death has already assigned them a number, which is going to come up one day.
James A. Baldwin quotes: The male cannot bear very much humiliation; and he really cannot bear it, it obliterates him. The male cannot bear very much humiliation; and he really cannot bear it, it obliterates him.
James A. Baldwin quotes: A writer has to take all the risks of putting down what he sees. A writer has to take all the risks of putting down what he sees.

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