It is dangerous to be an American Negro male. America has never wanted its Negroes to be men, and does not, generally, treat them as men. It treats them as mascots, pets, or things.
James A. BaldwinRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Enthusiasm is essential for productivity and enjoyment in our work.
James A. Baldwin emphasizes that enthusiasm is a crucial ingredient for engaging in any activity, particularly in the workplace. He suggests that just as dead embers cannot produce fire, individuals lacking spirit cannot inspire enthusiasm in others. By fostering enthusiasm, even challenging tasks can become enjoyable.
Themes
EnthusiasmMotivationWorkEffortProductivity
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote when giving a motivational speech to a team at work.
More from James A. Baldwin
All quotes βThe white man discovered the Cross by way of the Bible, but the black man discovered the Bible by way of the Cross.
James A. BaldwinRead
Those kids aren't dumb. But the people who run these schools want to make sure they don't get smart: they are really teaching the kids to be slaves.
James A. BaldwinRead
Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it.
James A. BaldwinRead
The reason people think it's important to be white is that they think it's important not to be black.
James A. BaldwinRead
The trick is to love somebody.... If you love one person, you see everybody else differently.
James A. BaldwinRead
Similar quotes
The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing.
John Le CarreRead
Ambition, I have come to believe, is the most primal and sacred and fundament of our being. To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence.
Steven PressfieldRead
We only have one future, and it will be made of our dreams, if we have the courage to challenge convention.
Soichiro HondaRead
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
EminemRead
Practice the 101 Percent Principle. Whenever possible, find the 1 percent you do agree on in a difficult situation, and give it 100 percent of your effort.
John C. MaxwellRead
I wanted to be a shoe designer, but I never thought it could be a profession. But what was the alternative? Doctor? Too dirty! Air-hostess? Maybe not! Then someone gave me a book on Roger Vivier, and, cheri, instantly I knew that was it!
Christian LouboutinRead