Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.

Quote by Gore Vidal

Topics: Gore Vidal Quotes

Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President....

Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President....

It's not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

It's not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

Trust a nitwit society like this one to think that there are only two categories...

Trust a nitwit society like this one to think that there are only two categories...

To a man, ornithologists are tall, slender, and bearded so that they can stand motionless...

To a man, ornithologists are tall, slender, and bearded so that they can stand motionless...

Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified...

Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified...

Sex is. There is nothing more to be done about it. Sex builds no roads,...

Sex is. There is nothing more to be done about it. Sex builds no roads,...

Teaching has ruined more American novelists than drink.

Teaching has ruined more American novelists than drink.

By 1948, the Italians had begun to pull themselves together, demonstrating once more their astonishing...

By 1948, the Italians had begun to pull themselves together, demonstrating once more their astonishing...

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a...

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a...

What other culture could have produced someone like Hemingway and not seen the joke?

What other culture could have produced someone like Hemingway and not seen the joke?

What other culture could have produced someone like Hemmingway and not seen the joke?

What other culture could have produced someone like Hemmingway and not seen the joke?

The greatest pleasure when I started making money was not buying cars or yachts but...

The greatest pleasure when I started making money was not buying cars or yachts but...

Never have children, only grandchildren.

Never have children, only grandchildren.

In writing and politicking, it's best not to think about it, just do it.

In writing and politicking, it's best not to think about it, just do it.

Some writers take to drink, others take to audiences.

Some writers take to drink, others take to audiences.

As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not...

As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not...

Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of...

Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of...

We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of...

We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of...

Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read newspapers. I hope it's...

Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read newspapers. I hope it's...

In America, the race goes to the loud, the solemn, the hustler. If you think...

In America, the race goes to the loud, the solemn, the hustler. If you think...