American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.

— James A. Baldwin

Education is indoctrination if you're white - subjugation if you're black.

— James A. Baldwin

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

Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.

— James A. Baldwin

I am what time, circumstance, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also, much more than that. So are we all.

— James A. Baldwin

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

I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

— James A. Baldwin

It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.

— James A. Baldwin

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

— James A. Baldwin

I've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative.

— James A. Baldwin