To be in a world which is a hell, to be of that world and neither to believe in or guess at anything but that world is not merely hell but the only possible damnation: the act of a man damning himself. It may be

Summary

interpreted that this quote by James Baldwin speaks to the detrimental consequences of fully conforming to a negatively perceived reality. According to Baldwin, being trapped in a world that is deemed hellish, without having any faith or imagination beyond that world, is not just a miserable existence, but also a self-imposed condemnation. By failing to believe in or aspire to something greater, individuals are essentially damning themselves, limiting their potential for growth, joy, and the pursuit of a more fulfilling life.

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