James Baldwin was an American novelist, playwright, poet and a civil rights activist. His most famous works include ‘Notes of a Native Son,’ ‘The Fire Next Time’ and ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain.’ He explored racial and social issues in most of his works. He was most notably known for his groundbreaking essays on the Black experience in America. Baldwin’s first novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, published in 1953, received immense critical acclaim.
Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, in Harlem, New York. Baldwin was born to a young single mother, Emma Jones, at Harlem Hospital. Baldwin developed a passion for reading at an early age and was a gifted writer too. Baldwin died on December 1, 1987, at his home in St. Paul de Vence, France.
1 I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do. -James Baldwin
People’s actions speak louder than their words. They may deceive you with their words, but it’s the actions that reveal their true intentions.
2 You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. -James Baldwin
We have the habit of exaggerating our own worries as we live in our own bubble of privilege. It is only when we read and learn more about the world that we realise that our own pain is minuscule when compared to other greater issues.
3 Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law. -James Baldwin
Hatred is a double-edged sword. The hate that you harbour inside you does not only lead you to inflict harm on others, but it also harms your own self. It eats you from the inside and turns you into a toxic person.
4 Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. -James Baldwin
Children are at their most impressionable age. They may rebel and not listen to you, but your actions have an immense impact on them. They will try to emulate your actions, good or bad.
5 Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. -James Baldwin
Love has the power to let loose your inner self. You do not need to put on a facade and act like someone you are not. You have no need to bottle up your own emotions when in the presence of someone you love.
6 Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. -James Baldwin
You cannot change the outcome of each and challenge that you face. But if you do wish to change something, you need to face it. Unless you muster up the courage to do so, it’ll always remain the way it is.
7 People can cry much easier than they can change. -James Baldwin
People have the habit of weeping over the things that they have no control over. But the one thing that you can change is yourself. Change the way you look at things, change the way you react to things and everything else will fall into place.
8 You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you. -James Baldwin
Be true to yourself and be the person that you really are. Do not let others tell you what you should be. Accept yourself. And if the world doesn’t accept you it is the world that needs to change, not you.
9 To accept one’s past, one’s history, is not the same thing as drowning in it; it is learning how to use it. -James Baldwin
You need to accept your own past and move on. There is nothing that you can do to change your past. You need to learn from it and move on to a better future instead of just lamenting over how things are.
10 It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. -James Baldwin
The ignorance of those with power just leads to apathy. Unless they choose to see the injustice that is all around them, they’ll never be able to own up to the responsibility that comes with their power.
11 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 Baldwin
Education is meant to enable you to question every tenet of pre-established beliefs. It is meant to enable you to have independent thoughts free from prejudice and see the world for what it truly is.
12 Precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society. -James Baldwin
The atrocities and injustice that plagues our society is innumerable. A person with conscience needs to be able to see the world and all its flaws. And once he does that he will undoubtedly find himself at odds with the society.
13 Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does, love is a battle, love is growing up. -James Baldwin
Love is not what we imagine it to be. It is a beautiful journey that teaches you about life itself. You’ll laugh, you’ll hurt, you’ll cry but most importantly you’ll grow.
14 Neither love nor terror makes one blind: indifference makes one blind. -James Baldwin
You choose to be ignorant when you refuse to look beyond your own self-interests. It is your apathy and indifference that makes you blind to the plight of others.
14 James Baldwin Quotes to Inspire You in 2020
1. I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do. -James Baldwin
2. You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. -James Baldwin
3. Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law. -James Baldwin
4. Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. -James Baldwin
5. Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. -James Baldwin
6. Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. -James Baldwin
7. People can cry much easier than they can change. -James Baldwin
8. You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you. -James Baldwin
9. To accept one’s past, one’s history, is not the same thing as drowning in it; it is learning how to use it. -James Baldwin
10. It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. -James Baldwin
11. 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 Baldwin
12. Precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society. -James Baldwin
13. Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does, love is a battle, love is growing up. -James Baldwin
14. Neither love nor terror makes one blind: indifference makes one blind. -James Baldwin
