I was in his hands, he called me by the thunder at my ear. I was in his hands: I was being changed; all that I could do was cling to him. I did not realize, until I realized it, that I was also kissing him, that everything was breaking and changing and turning in me and moving toward him.
James A. BaldwinThe writer's greed is appalling. He wants, or seems to want, everything and practically everybody, in another sense, and at the same time, he needs no one at all.
James A. BaldwinWhen a man asks himself what is meant by action he proves that he isn't a man of action. Action is a lack of balance. In order to act you must be somewhat insane. A reasonably sensible man is satisfied with thinking.
James A. BaldwinPeople can cry much easier than they can change, a rule of psychology people like me picked up as kids on the street.
James A. BaldwinI was guilty and irritated and full of love and pain. I wanted to kick him and I wanted to take him in my arms.
James A. BaldwinWell,โ I said, โParis is old, is many centuries. You feel, in Paris, all the time gone by. That isnโt what you feel in New York โ โHe was smiling. I stopped. โWhat do you feel in New York?โ he asked. โPerhaps you feel,โ I told him, โall the time to come. Thereโs such power there, everything is in such movement. You canโt help wonderingโI canโt help wonderingโwhat it will all be likeโ many years from now.
James A. Baldwin