--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The New York Times is the worst in that…" description: "\"The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. Most of it reads like slight translations from the German.\" — Gore..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/gore-vidal-466_journalism_the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that_61667.jpg" --- # The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can… ![“The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. Most of it reads like slight translations from the German.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/gore-vidal-466_journalism_the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that_61667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/gore-vidal-466_journalism_the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that_61667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/gore-vidal-466_journalism_the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that_61667.jpg) > “The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. Most of it reads like slight translations from the German.” [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. A criticism that the newspaper's prose is poorly written, resembling literal translations from German, implying a lack of linguistic skill. **In simple terms:** Critique of NYT writing quality Key Takeaway Poor prose undermines credibility Themes journalism language criticism media bias translation Mood skeptical critical Type opinion media criticism When to use this quote - reading newspaper articles - evaluating editorial quality - comparing international journalism Key Concepts writing standards cultural perception media reputation Practical Applications - media literacy training - editing workshops Questions to Reflect On - What standards define good journalistic writing? - How does language proficiency affect credibility? A Different Perspective Some may argue that NYT maintains high journalistic standards despite stylistic differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Translations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translations/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) ## Related quotes > [The New York Times is the worst newspaper in the world and it's extremely vicious to artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-newspaper-in-the-world-and-it-s/) [James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/) > [Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got. Thanking God for another day of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-it-s-the-best-of-times-or-the-worst-of-times-it-s-the-only-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your here at the best of times but where are you at the worst? :(](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/your-here-at-the-best-of-times-but-where-are-you-at-the-worst/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [“My celebrity memoir title: It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/my-celebrity-memoir-title-it-was-the-worst-of-times-it-was-the-worst/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Ever hear that expression, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times"? That's what high school was like for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/ever-hear-that-expression-it-was-the-best-of-times-it-was-the-worst/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [Television is what it's always been. The best of times and the worst of times at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david-goldberg/television-is-what-it-s-always-been-the-best-of-times-and-the-worst/) [Gary David Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-david-goldberg/) > [Lookin back on what we've done this year, it was the best times and it was the worst times but we wrote something here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/lookin-back-on-what-we-ve-done-this-year-it-was-the-best-times-and-it/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) > [Whether its the best of times or the worst of times, its the only time weve got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/whether-its-the-best-of-times-or-the-worst-of-times-its-the-only-time/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [We will be at our best when times are at their worst because of our habits, attitude and chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-frank/we-will-be-at-our-best-when-times-are-at-their-worst-because-of-our/) Lawrence Frank > [I don't know whether this is the best of times or the worst of times, but I assure you it's the only time you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-don-t-know-whether-this-is-the-best-of-times-or-the-worst-of-times/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [“It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/it-was-the-worst-of-times-it-was-the-worst-of-times/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [Television is what its always been. The best of times and the worst of times at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david/television-is-what-its-always-been-the-best-of-times-and-the-worst-of/) Gary David > [It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-was-the-best-of-times-it-was-the-worst-of-times/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [When times are at their worst, it's amazing what people will do for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-keating/when-times-are-at-their-worst-it-s-amazing-what-people-will-do-for-you/) [Ronan Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronan-keating/) > [Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-it-s-the-best-of-times-or-the-worst-of-times-it-s-the-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are-both-dangerous-and-stupid/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-societies-grow-decadent-the-language-grows-decadent-too-words-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/rome-at-its-most-decadent-had-never-thought-of-hiring-an-actor-to-go/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/sex-is-a-continuum-you-go-through-different-phases-along-life-s-way/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-do-not-admire-the-people-as-such-no-one-really-does-their-folk/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“One of the problems of a society as tightly controlled as ours is that we get so little information about what those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/one-of-the-problems-of-a-society-as-tightly-controlled-as-ours-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Explore all 539 Gore Vidal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More Journalism quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Newspapers have an extraordinary amount of local content, including real estate listings and restaurant reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbal-musk/newspapers-have-an-extraordinary-amount-of-local-content-including/) [Kimbal Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbal-musk/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [People think they're getting objective information, but they're not. They're getting news wrapped up in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-samuels/people-think-they-re-getting-objective-information-but-they-re-not/) [Lynn Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-samuels/) [Browse all 8,189 Journalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. 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