I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Democracy is something America has never really practiced. Because the Founding Fathers hated two things: monarchy and democracy. They wanted a republic,… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
We should stop going around babbling about how we're the greatest democracy on earth, when we're not even a democracy. We are… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
I'd still like to be the President, of course, and I think the best way to do that would be to raise… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Liberal comes from the Latin liberalis, which means pertaining to a free man. In politics, to be liberal is to want to… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
I assume that the point of American democracy is you can express any point of view you want. — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
The word 'radical' derives from the Latin word for root. Therefore, if you want to get to the root of anything you… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
In almost every case (where the United States has fought wars) our overwhelming commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights has required… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin. — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.” — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn. — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true. — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated. — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
