Who said “The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state…”?

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James Baldwin. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"The Creative Process" (1962) originally published in The National Culture Center's Creative America (1962) and later published in The Price of the Ticket (1985)

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“The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid: the state of being alone.”
— James Baldwin
Verified"The Creative Process" (1962) originally published in The National Culture Center's Creative America (1962) and later published in The Price of the Ticket (1985) · evidenceArts and Artists

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "The Creative Process" (1962) originally published in The National Culture Center's Creative America (1962) and later published in The Price of the Ticket (1985).

APA

Baldwin, J. (n.d.). The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid: the state of being alone. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7179-the-primary-distinction-of-the-artist-is-that/

MLA

Baldwin, James. “The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid: the state of being alone.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7179-the-primary-distinction-of-the-artist-is-that/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Baldwin, James. “The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid: the state of being alone.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7179-the-primary-distinction-of-the-artist-is-that/.

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