A writer represents his family history. My grandfather was a senator and my father served in the Roosevelt administration. In other words,… — 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
Although the notion of one god may give comfort to those in need of a daddy, it reminds the rest of us… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Some of my father's fellow West Pointers once asked him why I turned out so well, his secret in raising me. And… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
My father had a deep and lifelong contempt for politicians in general ("They tell lies," he used to say with wonder, "even… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
I would be literally patrician in the sense that the senators in ancient Rome were called conscript fathers, paters, from which comes… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
But women are always attracted to power. I do not think there could ever be a conqueror so bloody that most women… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
When you come from a family that has been political, and I was brought up by my grandfather in the Senate, my… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
Ultimately, totalitarianism is the only sort of politics that can truly serve the sky-god's purpose. Any movement of a liberal nature endangers… — Gore Vidal Copy Share Image
I have been on the cover of Time magazine. My father was on the cover of Time, and my grandfather was on… — 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
