--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People pay for that they do, and still…" description: "\"“People pay for that they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And the pay for it simply: by the lives they lead. - Jam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/dorothy-allison-2041_baldwin_people-pay-for-that-they-do-and-still-mo_2123944.png" --- # People pay for that they do, and still more, for what they… ![“People pay for that they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And the pay for it simply: by the lives they lead. - James Baldwin” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/dorothy-allison-2041_baldwin_people-pay-for-that-they-do-and-still-mo_2123944.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/dorothy-allison-2041_baldwin_people-pay-for-that-they-do-and-still-mo_2123944.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/dorothy-allison-2041_baldwin_people-pay-for-that-they-do-and-still-mo_2123944.png) > ““People pay for that they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And the pay for it simply: by the lives they lead. - James Baldwin”” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that individuals are accountable for both their actions and the identities they permit themselves to adopt, and they pay the price through the quality of their lives. **In simple terms:** We pay for what we do and who we become. Key Takeaway Recognize and choose your path wisely. Themes responsibility identity consequences Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - social activism - health habits Key Concepts existentialism self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your identity? - How do your actions shape your future? A Different Perspective It ignores structural constraints that limit personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baldwin/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-baldwin/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Lives Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-lead-1778618/) [People Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-pay/) ## Related quotes > [People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-pay-for-what-they-do-and-still-more-for-what-they-have-allowed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A prolific writer and a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-north-american-writers-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time... not just African-American. He singled-handily revolutionized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-one-of-the-most-important/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I love James Baldwin's autobiographical writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-love-james-baldwin-s-autobiographical-writing/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I'm a big James Baldwin fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-griffin/i-m-a-big-james-baldwin-fan/) [Patty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-griffin/) > [James Baldwin had an unrivaled understanding of politics and history and, above all, the human condition. His prose is laser sharp. His onslaught is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understanding-of-politics-and-history/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [James Baldwin is probably, for me and for many other people, one of the most extraordinary authors in this country, black or white. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for-many-other-people-one-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [ Today, I don't even think that people like \[James Baldwin\] are possible. He would not have that much room. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-like-james-baldwin-are-possible/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [It means so much to be a part of bringing James Baldwin's words to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/it-means-so-much-to-be-a-part-of-bringing-james-baldwin-s-words-to/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [ \[James\] Baldwin was a revelation for me, the kind of revelation that follows you all your life because you can go back to it.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-the-kind-of-revelation-that/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I am a big devourer of James Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-am-a-big-devourer-of-james-baldwin/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side. James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/the-price-one-pays-for-pursuing-any-profession-or-calling-is-an/) [AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab/) > [“Sociologically, politically, psychologically, spiritually, it was never enough for James Baldwin to categorize himself as one thing or the other: not just black, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/sociologically-politically-psychologically-spiritually-it-was-never/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [“James Baldwin lived in this house for more than twenty-five years, and all that was left were half a dozen pink teacups and turquoise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kaadzi-ghansah/james-baldwin-lived-in-this-house-for-more-than-twenty-five-years-and/) [Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kaadzi-ghansah/) > [ It was really always about bringing back \[James\] Baldwin's words in all their rawness, in all their impact - in the way he analyzes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back-james-baldwin-s-words-in-all/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Baldwin quotes > [James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A prolific writer and a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-north-american-writers-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [“One must say Yes to life and embrace it wherever it is found—and it is found in terrible places; nevertheless, there it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/one-must-say-yes-to-life-and-embrace-it-wherever-it-is-found-and-it/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Baldwin often times stumbles over the truth, but he always picks himself up and hurries on as if nothing had happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/baldwin-often-times-stumbles-over-the-truth-but-he-always-picks/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“James Baldwin lived in this house for more than twenty-five years, and all that was left were half a dozen pink teacups and turquoise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kaadzi-ghansah/james-baldwin-lived-in-this-house-for-more-than-twenty-five-years-and/) [Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kaadzi-ghansah/) > [“Sociologically, politically, psychologically, spiritually, it was never enough for James Baldwin to categorize himself as one thing or the other: not just black, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/sociologically-politically-psychologically-spiritually-it-was-never/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [“Shit, Violence, bullets in the brain Unavailing. We're in too deep to pull out. Waiting for an orgasm, Mr. Baldwin? Yes, waiting for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/shit-violence-bullets-in-the-brain-unavailing-we-re-in-too-deep-to/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [I want to interview Alec Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-want-to-interview-alec-baldwin/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [I like the Baldwin boys a great deal. Alec is super-smart, super-articulate, almost too smart to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lapaglia/i-like-the-baldwin-boys-a-great-deal-alec-is-super-smart-super/) [Anthony LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lapaglia/) > [Jimmy Baldwin was not only a writer, an international literary figure: he was a man, spirit, voice - old and black and terrible as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiri-baraka/jimmy-baldwin-was-not-only-a-writer-an-international-literary-figure/) [Amiri Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiri-baraka/) > [“They sat at a metal table covered by stained and cracked Formica laminate. A huge woman with shoulder-length braids pranced over. Baldwin couldn’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/they-sat-at-a-metal-table-covered-by-stained-and-cracked-formica/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side. James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/the-price-one-pays-for-pursuing-any-profession-or-calling-is-an/) [AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab/) > [I am a big devourer of James Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-am-a-big-devourer-of-james-baldwin/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [ \[James\] Baldwin was a revelation for me, the kind of revelation that follows you all your life because you can go back to it.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-the-kind-of-revelation-that/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [“Baldwin glanced at his watch and saw it was too early to order a drink. This was supposed to be a beautiful, quiet day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/baldwin-glanced-at-his-watch-and-saw-it-was-too-early-to-order-a/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [It means so much to be a part of bringing James Baldwin's words to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/it-means-so-much-to-be-a-part-of-bringing-james-baldwin-s-words-to/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) [Browse all 68 Baldwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baldwin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People pay for that they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. 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