Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by James A. Baldwin

Quote by James A. Baldwin

“The universe, which is not merely the stars and the moon and the planets, flowers, grass and trees, but other people, has evolved no terms for your existence, has made no room for you, and if love will not swing wide the gates, no other power will or can. And if one despairs-- as who has not?-- of human love, God's love alone is left.”

Quote by James A. Baldwin

Create image

Author

James A. Baldwin
James A. Baldwin

James A. Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, and playwright. His works explored themes of race, gender, sexuality, and the class structure of American society. Baldwin is known for his profound social criticism and insight into the human condition. more

You May Also Like

“It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death-- ought to decide, indeed, to earn one's death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return. One must negotiate this passage as nobly as possible, for the sake of those who are coming after us.”

FactsSeemsPassionDarknessReturnOughtResponsibleSakePassagesRejoiceConfrontingBeaconsConundrums
Author:James A. Baldwin
Create image

“There is only one princess in the Disney tales, one girl who gets to be exalted. Princesses may confide in a sympathetic mouse or teacup, but they do not have girlfriends. God forbid Snow White should give Sleeping Beauty a little support. Let's review: princesses avoid female bonding. Their goals are to be saved by a prince, get married, and be taken care of the rest of their lives.”

GivingShouldMayLittlesCareGirlGoalSleepWhiteSupportTakenMarriedFemaleSavedTalesSnowGirlfriendReviewsPrincessMiceSympatheticExaltedBondingSnow WhiteSleeping Beauty
Book:Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture
Create image

“A free thinker used to be a man who had been educated on ideas of religion, law, morality, and had arrived at free thought by virtue of his own struggle and toil; but now a new type of born freethinker has been appearing, who’ve never even heard that there have been laws of morality and religion, and that there are authorities, but who simply grow up with negative ideas about everything, that is savages.”

MenHas BeensIdeasLawUsedGrowsBornStruggleGrowing UpVirtueHeardTypeMoralityAuthorityNegativeEducatedUsed To BeThinkerSavagesToilBe A ManAppearingFreethinkerFree ThoughtMorality And ReligionFree Thinkers
Author:Leo Tolstoy
Create image

“Alec," Magnus said. He put a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder; Alec was standing still, staring angrily at the floor. "Are you okay?" Alec looked at him. "Who are you again?" Magnus gave a little gasp; he looked — for the first time Simon could remember — actually unnerved. It lasted only a moment, but it was there. "Alexander," he said. "Too soon to joke about the happy memory thing, I take it," Alec said.”

FirstsLittlesSaidStillsMomentsHandsRememberMemoriesJokesFirst TimeStandingOkayShouldersStaringYou AgainStanding StillHappy Memories
Book:City of Lost Souls
Create image