You know, it's not the world that was my oppressor, because what the world does to you, if the world does it to you long enough and effectively enough, you begin to do to yourself.

Quote by James A Baldwin

Topics: James A Baldwin Quotes

When one begins to live by habit and by quotation, one has begun to stop...

When one begins to live by habit and by quotation, one has begun to stop...

There is a sanctity involved with bringing a child into this world: it is better...

There is a sanctity involved with bringing a child into this world: it is better...

Most of us are about as eager to be changed as we were to be...

Most of us are about as eager to be changed as we were to be...

I want to be an honest man and a good writer.

I want to be an honest man and a good writer.

The power of the white world is threatened whenever a black man refuses to accept...

The power of the white world is threatened whenever a black man refuses to accept...

The writer's greed is appalling. He wants, or seems to want, everything and practically everybody,...

The writer's greed is appalling. He wants, or seems to want, everything and practically everybody,...

It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the...

It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the...

The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become...

The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become...

The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious...

The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious...

Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and...

Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and...

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be...

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be...

Pessimists are the people who have no hope for themselves or for others. Pessimists are...

Pessimists are the people who have no hope for themselves or for others. Pessimists are...

Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets,...

Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets,...

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.

People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves...

People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves...

American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone...

American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone...

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

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

No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for...

No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for...

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

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

When a man asks himself what is meant by action he proves that he isn't...

When a man asks himself what is meant by action he proves that he isn't...