--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sexual revelation in literature, must be…" description: "\"“Sexual revelation in literature, must be tactful and must serve plot”\" — Gore Vidal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/gore-vidal-466_books_sexual-revelation-in-literature-must-be_1884764.jpg" --- # Sexual revelation in literature, must be tactful and must… ![“Sexual revelation in literature, must be tactful and must serve plot” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/gore-vidal-466_books_sexual-revelation-in-literature-must-be_1884764.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/gore-vidal-466_books_sexual-revelation-in-literature-must-be_1884764.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/gore-vidal-466_books_sexual-revelation-in-literature-must-be_1884764.jpg) > ““Sexual revelation in literature, must be tactful and must serve plot”” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sexual content must be tasteful and serve the story, not just shock. **In simple terms:** Sex scenes need purpose and subtlety. Key Takeaway Write intimate scenes that advance plot. Themes literature sexuality craft Mood thoughtful critical Type literary ethical When to use this quote - romantic novels - screenplays - educational material - censorship debates Key Concepts narrative purpose ethical storytelling Questions to Reflect On - When is explicit content essential? - How to balance honesty and tact? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on plot can stifle artistic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) ## Related quotes > [“If one starts with the anatomical difference, which even a patriarchal Viennese novelist was able to see was destiny, then one begins to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/if-one-starts-with-the-anatomical-difference-which-even-a-patriarchal/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Talk about tactful - she's got a tongue like a Kalashnikov!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/talk-about-tactful-she-s-got-a-tongue-like-a-kalashnikov/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [“Did you refuse to be tested to see if you and he were Soul Complements because you were afraid you might want sex with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/did-you-refuse-to-be-tested-to-see-if-you-and-he-were-soul/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [“What is the tactful, the effective way of announcing that your life’s work has been wasted?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spufford/what-is-the-tactful-the-effective-way-of-announcing-that-your-life-s/) [Francis Spufford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spufford/) > [The worst of having so much tact was that you never quite knew whether other people were acting naturally or being tactful too. \[The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-worst-of-having-so-much-tact-was-that-you-never-quite-knew/) [W. 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I have a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-honest-i-say-what-i-feel-i-try-to-be-tactful-but-i-can-t-not-say/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I'm quite tactful, actually. I worry about whether people are all right. With my friends, obviously, conversations are quite free and uncensored, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-davis/i-m-quite-tactful-actually-i-worry-about-whether-people-are-all-right/) [Julia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-davis/) > [“thinking to be tactful and adroit, the woman stood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/thinking-to-be-tactful-and-adroit-the-woman-stood/) [Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/) > [Sometimes I can be tactful and sometimes not. It all depends on the mood I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-brown/sometimes-i-can-be-tactful-and-sometimes-not-it-all-depends-on-the/) [Melanie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-brown/) > [“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-conversation-where-we-tell-you/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Growing up, I didn't feel tactful or classy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chappell-roan/growing-up-i-didn-t-feel-tactful-or-classy/) [Chappell Roan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chappell-roan/) > [Whenever your well-being feels at risk around certain people, make a tactful and swift exit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/whenever-your-well-being-feels-at-risk-around-certain-people-make-a/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [“No, he is not tactful, yet have you ever noticed that there are people who do things which are most indelicate, and yet, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/no-he-is-not-tactful-yet-have-you-ever-noticed-that-there-are-people/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. 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