787 Quotes by James Baldwin

I don’t know, now, when I first looked at Hella and found her stale, found her body uninteresting, her presence grating. It seemed to happen all at once – I suppose that only means that it had been happening for a long time.

Pessimists are the people who have no hope for themselves or for others. Pessimists are also people who think the human race is beneath their notice, that they're better than other human beings.

Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.

There is a 'sanctity' involved with bringing a child into this world: it is better than bombing one out of it.

The young think that failure is the Siberian end of the line, banishment from all the living, and tend to do what I then did - which was to hide.

The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.

It is very nearly impossible... to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.

The future is like heaven, everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go there now.

Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours.