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Accepting Quote by Gore Vidal

“I Must warn you, Iris, that I'm not a believer. And though I'm sure that the revelations of other men must be a source of infinite satisfaction to them, individually, I shouldn't for one second be so presumptuous as to make a choice among the many thousands of recorded revelations of truth…” quote by Gore Vidal
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“I Must warn you, Iris, that I'm not a believer. And though I'm sure that the revelations of other men must be a source of infinite satisfaction to them, individually, I shouldn't for one second be so presumptuous as to make a choice among the many thousands of recorded revelations of truth, accepting one at the expense of all the others: I might so easily choose wrong and get into eternal trouble. And you must admit that the selection is wide, and dangerous to the amateur.”

Gore Vidal

About This Quote

Source Novel: Myra Breckenridge, 1968

The speaker doubts any single revelation can claim absolute truth, fearing the danger of choosing one among many and the risk of error.

In simple terms: No one revelation is surely true; choosing one is risky.

Key Takeaway

Stay open to multiple perspectives and avoid dogmatism.

Themes

truth skepticism religion choice

Mood

skeptical thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal belief
  • academic study
  • interfaith dialogue
  • ethical decision making

Key Concepts

Epistemology pluralism faith risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

  • What criteria would you use to evaluate revelations?
  • Can uncertainty be a source of freedom?
A Different Perspective

Absolute claims can be persuasive and may suppress alternative views.

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