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The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers.

James Baldwin

To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.
JAMES BALDWIN

Consicious Country Negro Reative Time
The artistic image is not intended to represent the thing itself, but, rather, the reality of the force the thing contains.
JAMES BALDWIN

Art Force Reality Represent
People can’t, unhappily, invent their mooring posts, their lovers and their friends, anymore than they can invent their parents.
JAMES BALDWIN

Friendship Invent Love Lover Parents People Unhappiness
For these are all our children, we will all profit by or pay for what they become.
JAMES BALDWIN

Children Inspirational Pay Profit
The victim who is able to articulate the situation of the victim has ceased to be a victim: he or she has become a threat.
JAMES BALDWIN

Situation Threat Victim Women
Youth must be the worst time in anybody’s life.
JAMES BALDWIN

Humour One Liner Reality Time Worst Youth
People are too various to be treated so lightly. I am too various to be trusted.
JAMES BALDWIN

Light People Treat Trust
The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.
JAMES BALDWIN

Business Entrepreneur Exist Inspirational One Liner Place
The role of the artist is exactly the same as the role of the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.
JAMES BALDWIN

Consicious I Love You Love Lover Role
The world is mostly divided between madmen who remember and madmen who forget. Heroes are rare.
JAMES BALDWIN

Forget Hero Madness Man Remember World
People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.
JAMES BALDWIN

Bread Float Human People Poison Surprise Water
The moment we cease to hold each other, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.
JAMES BALDWIN

Cease Each Other Hold Light Moments Sea
People who believe that they are strong-willed and the masters of their destiny can only continue to believe this by becoming specialists in self-deception.
JAMES BALDWIN

Believe Cheat Destiny Master People Strong
People don’t have any mercy. They tear you limb from limb, in the name of love.
JAMES BALDWIN

Disappointment Hurt Limb Love Mercy People
It is easy to proclaim all souls equal in the sight of God; it is hard to make men equal on earth in the sight of men.
JAMES BALDWIN

Claim Earth Equality God Men Sight Soul
If a society permits one portion of its citizenry to be menaced or destroyed, then, very soon, no one in that society is safe.
JAMES BALDWIN

Allow Citizen Destroy Permit Portion Society

The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers.

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The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers.

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