--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no such thing as a homosexual or…" description: "\"There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/gore-vidal-466_homosexual_there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-o_1169811.jpg" --- # There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual… ![“There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/gore-vidal-466_homosexual_there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-o_1169811.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/gore-vidal-466_homosexual_there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-o_1169811.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/gore-vidal-466_homosexual_there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-o_1169811.jpg) > “There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices.” [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 identity is defined by actions, not inherent categories; most people exhibit mixed behaviors. **In simple terms:** Identity is about acts, not labels. Key Takeaway Focus on behavior, not labels. Themes identity sexuality fluidity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - self‑acceptance - social discourse Key Concepts gender theory behavioral psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you define yourself beyond labels? - Can behavior change identity? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex human experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heterosexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heterosexual/) [Homosexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexual/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[T\]here is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/t-here-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-or-a-heterosexual-person/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-person-any-more-than/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Admittedly, a homosexual can be conditioned to react sexually to a woman, or to an old boot for that matter. In fact, both homo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/admittedly-a-homosexual-can-be-conditioned-to-react-sexually-to-a/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [The fact that a person loves one particular person is what is important; the life lesson, whether you are homosexual or heterosexual, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-devine/the-fact-that-a-person-loves-one-particular-person-is-what-is/) [Loretta Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-devine/) > [I deny that there's such a thing as a gay person. I deny there's such a thing as a heterosexual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-deny-that-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-gay-person-i-deny-there-s-such/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [No matter if you are homosexual or heterosexual we all desire the same rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-if-you-are-homosexual-or-heterosexual-we-all-desire-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not homosexual, I'm not heterosexual, I'm just sexual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-m-not-homosexual-i-m-not-heterosexual-i-m-just-sexual/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Being gay is something to be ashamed of. That they will never be as good a parent as a heterosexual person. Which is rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-gay-is-something-to-be-ashamed-of-that-they-will-never-be-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm as heterosexual as any person need be. I'm open about my relationships - or lack thereof - in my own life, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-m-as-heterosexual-as-any-person-need-be-i-m-open-about-my/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [There's no difference between a gay person and a heterosexual person at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-s-no-difference-between-a-gay-person-and-a-heterosexual-person/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [It is nothing to celebrate that one is gay. Us heterosexuals have never celebrated our orientation. This cheering of gays is disruptive to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-i-hagen/it-is-nothing-to-celebrate-that-one-is-gay-us-heterosexuals-have/) [Carl I. Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-i-hagen/) > [From the age of 1 to 6 there is a small percentage that is exclusively homosexual, a small percentage heterosexual and there's a wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/from-the-age-of-1-to-6-there-is-a-small-percentage-that-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The word heterosexual is an adjective, the word homosexual is an adjective. They describe an activity. Of course there's a homosexual activity; of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-word-heterosexual-is-an-adjective-the-word-homosexual-is-an/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [There's no specific punishment in the books of fiqh (Islamic laws) that relate to homosexuality per se. They apply to any illicit sexual relations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/there-s-no-specific-punishment-in-the-books-of-fiqh-islamic-laws-that/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [being homosexual doesn't determine a man's whole character any more than being heterosexual does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/being-homosexual-doesn-t-determine-a-man-s-whole-character-any-more/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) ## 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 Heterosexual quotes > [Heterosexual intercourse is the pure, formalized expression of contempt for women's bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/heterosexual-intercourse-is-the-pure-formalized-expression-of/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [being homosexual doesn't determine a man's whole character any more than being heterosexual does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/being-homosexual-doesn-t-determine-a-man-s-whole-character-any-more/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“heterosexual male who works in this building. Much to the chagrin of the members”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-siegel/heterosexual-male-who-works-in-this-building-much-to-the-chagrin-of/) [Sheldon Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-siegel/) > [Heterosexual marriage is the heart of our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/heterosexual-marriage-is-the-heart-of-our-civilization/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Gay men should not adopt the sophomoric model of heterosexual dating; gay men should always have sex first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rechy/gay-men-should-not-adopt-the-sophomoric-model-of-heterosexual-dating/) [John Rechy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rechy/) > [Do You Put I'm Heterosexual On Your Resume'? So If You're Homosexual Why Is It So Important ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquez-brown/do-you-put-i-m-heterosexual-on-your-resume-so-if-you-re-homosexual/) [Marquez Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquez-brown/) > [I think when you fall in love, whether you're heterosexual, transgender, gay, lesbian, whatever, straight, you feel like it's happening to you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-when-you-fall-in-love-whether-you-re-heterosexual-transgender/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [“He’s like the most dangerous species of American there is: heterosexual white male who didn’t get what he wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/he-s-like-the-most-dangerous-species-of-american-there-is/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Regardless of whether you're in a gay or heterosexual relationship, you're going to go through your ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/regardless-of-whether-you-re-in-a-gay-or-heterosexual-relationship/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [“Quite how a heterosexual couple hiring a female cleaner ends up as a betrayal of feminism isn't terribly clear- unless you believe running a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/quite-how-a-heterosexual-couple-hiring-a-female-cleaner-ends-up-as-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People say, 'When did you decide you were gay?' and you think, 'When did you decide you were heterosexual?' It's not a decision: it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/people-say-when-did-you-decide-you-were-gay-and-you-think-when-did/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [“If heterosexual people can get married then gay and lesbian people can get married too”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-martin/if-heterosexual-people-can-get-married-then-gay-and-lesbian-people/) [Paul Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-martin/) > [Once you're heterosexual and comfortable with that, you don't need to take out an announcement every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/once-you-re-heterosexual-and-comfortable-with-that-you-don-t-need-to/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [The problem is that television executives have got it into their heads that if one presenter on a show is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed heterosexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/the-problem-is-that-television-executives-have-got-it-into-their/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) [Browse all 176 Heterosexual quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heterosexual/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. 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