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, 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.”
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.
Stay open to multiple perspectives and avoid dogmatism.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal belief
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria would you use to evaluate revelations?
- Can uncertainty be a source of freedom?
Absolute claims can be persuasive and may suppress alternative views.