--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But…" description: "\"“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was a crock of nothing.”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/robert-harris-2039_gore-vidal_a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-a_99846.png" --- # A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this… ![“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was a crock of nothing.” quote by Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/robert-harris-2039_gore-vidal_a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-a_99846.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/robert-harris-2039_gore-vidal_a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-a_99846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/robert-harris-2039_gore-vidal_a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-a_99846.png) > ““A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was a crock of nothing.”” [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses something as worthless, yet acknowledges an inherent, paradoxical integrity in its emptiness. **In simple terms:** Even a worthless thing can possess its own integrity. Key Takeaway Negativity can coexist with intrinsic value. Themes critique paradox integrity literary reference Mood cynical wry Type quote observation When to use this quote - literary analysis - satirical writing - philosophical debate Key Concepts concept of nihilism self‑referential critique Practical Applications - use paradox to deepen satire - highlight hidden structure in criticism Questions to Reflect On - When does criticism become self‑defeating? - Can emptiness be a form of integrity? A Different Perspective The statement may be overly cynical, obscuring constructive feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I know it's a crock of shit. I ain't offering you happily-ever-after. I'm offering you... happily-maybe-sometimes-ever-after. Sort of. You know, with warts and shit."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-know-it-s-a-crock-of-shit-i-ain-t-offering-you-happily-ever-after-i/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“America is a lonely crock of shit...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/america-is-a-lonely-crock-of-shit/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The novel ceases to be looked at as a novel. Such is the overwhelming power of motion pictures. Gore Vidal pointed out that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/the-novel-ceases-to-be-looked-at-as-a-novel-such-is-the-overwhelming/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Gore Vidal was a man of immense literary talent, some of which he used well, some of which he wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/gore-vidal-was-a-man-of-immense-literary-talent-some-of-which-he-used/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [Gore Vidal, Glenn Greenwald, Noam Chomsky, talk about how the U.S. became a national security state after World War II. Essentially there's this bipartisan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/gore-vidal-glenn-greenwald-noam-chomsky-talk-about-how-the-u-s-became/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [Gore Vidal, Glenn Greenwald, Noam Chomsky, all these guys talk about how the United States became a national security state after World War II.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/gore-vidal-glenn-greenwald-noam-chomsky-all-these-guys-talk-about-how/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [They don't make people like Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/they-don-t-make-people-like-gore-vidal-and-william-f-buckley-anymore/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [I used to read Gore Vidal books and think I was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/i-used-to-read-gore-vidal-books-and-think-i-was-cool/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [“Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-methos/think-of-the-earth-as-a-living-organism-that-is-being-attacked-by/) [Victor Methos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-methos/) > [“The matter on which I judge people is their willingness, or ability, to handle contradiction. Thus Paine was better than Burke when it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-matter-on-which-i-judge-people-is-their-willingness-or-ability-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Nancy always made Clementine think of that Gore Vidal quote: 'Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/nancy-always-made-clementine-think-of-that-gore-vidal-quote-every/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) > [There will be a debate on Firing Line between Buckley and Gore Vidal on the proposition: "This nation cannot survive as long as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/there-will-be-a-debate-on-firing-line-between-buckley-and-gore-vidal/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [There are a few things that tend to infuriate me. One is ignorance, because I have become accustomed to speaking to very intelligent people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrine-steffans/there-are-a-few-things-that-tend-to-infuriate-me-one-is-ignorance/) [Karrine Steffans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrine-steffans/) > [I loved Gore Vidal's Burr. That book gave me courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-loved-gore-vidal-s-burr-that-book-gave-me-courage/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I read Noam Chomsky. I like some of Gore Vidal's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-read-noam-chomsky-i-like-some-of-gore-vidal-s-stuff/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) ## More by Robert Harris > [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/if-one-first-gives-himself-to-the-lord-all-other-giving-is-easy/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“He felt more human with his boots on. A man can face the world with something on his feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-felt-more-human-with-his-boots-on-a-man-can-face-the-world-with/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/cicero-most-reminds-me-of-harold-wilson-both-men-knew-how-to-keep-the/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [The financial world is at the cutting edge of high technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-financial-world-is-at-the-cutting-edge-of-high-technology/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed ... there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/to-choose-one-s-victims-to-prepare-one-s-plans-minutely-to-slake-an/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“Nature has granted man no better gift than the shortness of life. The senses grow dull, the limbs are numb, sight, bearing, gait, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/nature-has-granted-man-no-better-gift-than-the-shortness-of-life-the/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“... unfortunately, freedom alone is not enough, by far. If there is a shortage of bread, a shortage of butter and fats, a shortage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/unfortunately-freedom-alone-is-not-enough-by-far-if-there-is-a/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [It is perseverance, and not genius that takes a man to the top. Rome is full of unrecognized geniuses. Only perseverance enables you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-is-perseverance-and-not-genius-that-takes-a-man-to-the-top-rome-is/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“No one can really claim to know politics properly until he has stayed up all night writing a speech for delivery the following day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/no-one-can-really-claim-to-know-politics-properly-until-he-has-stayed/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [People perish. Books are immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/people-perish-books-are-immortal/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Does a name stick because it suits a man or does the man, unconsciously, evolve into his name?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/does-a-name-stick-because-it-suits-a-man-or-does-the-man/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“He glanced around the reading room and closed his eyes, trying to keep hold of the past for a minute longer, a fattening and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-glanced-around-the-reading-room-and-closed-his-eyes-trying-to-keep/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [The natural impulse of men is to follow and whoever has the strongest sense of purpose will always dominate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-natural-impulse-of-men-is-to-follow-and-whoever-has-the-strongest/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Having the urge to write a novel, especially if you've yet to be published, is like having a medical condition impossible to mention in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/having-the-urge-to-write-a-novel-especially-if-you-ve-yet-to-be/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) [Explore all 184 Robert Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) ## More Gore Vidal quotes > [I read Noam Chomsky. I like some of Gore Vidal's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-read-noam-chomsky-i-like-some-of-gore-vidal-s-stuff/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [I loved Gore Vidal's Burr. That book gave me courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-loved-gore-vidal-s-burr-that-book-gave-me-courage/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [There are a few things that tend to infuriate me. One is ignorance, because I have become accustomed to speaking to very intelligent people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrine-steffans/there-are-a-few-things-that-tend-to-infuriate-me-one-is-ignorance/) [Karrine Steffans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrine-steffans/) > [There will be a debate on Firing Line between Buckley and Gore Vidal on the proposition: "This nation cannot survive as long as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/there-will-be-a-debate-on-firing-line-between-buckley-and-gore-vidal/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [“Nancy always made Clementine think of that Gore Vidal quote: 'Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/nancy-always-made-clementine-think-of-that-gore-vidal-quote-every/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) > [“The matter on which I judge people is their willingness, or ability, to handle contradiction. Thus Paine was better than Burke when it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-matter-on-which-i-judge-people-is-their-willingness-or-ability-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-methos/think-of-the-earth-as-a-living-organism-that-is-being-attacked-by/) [Victor Methos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-methos/) > [I used to read Gore Vidal books and think I was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/i-used-to-read-gore-vidal-books-and-think-i-was-cool/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [They don't make people like Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/they-don-t-make-people-like-gore-vidal-and-william-f-buckley-anymore/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Gore Vidal, Glenn Greenwald, Noam Chomsky, all these guys talk about how the United States became a national security state after World War II.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/gore-vidal-glenn-greenwald-noam-chomsky-all-these-guys-talk-about-how/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [Gore Vidal, Glenn Greenwald, Noam Chomsky, talk about how the U.S. became a national security state after World War II. Essentially there's this bipartisan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/gore-vidal-glenn-greenwald-noam-chomsky-talk-about-how-the-u-s-became/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [Gore Vidal was a man of immense literary talent, some of which he used well, some of which he wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/gore-vidal-was-a-man-of-immense-literary-talent-some-of-which-he-used/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [The novel ceases to be looked at as a novel. Such is the overwhelming power of motion pictures. Gore Vidal pointed out that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/the-novel-ceases-to-be-looked-at-as-a-novel-such-is-the-overwhelming/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [“Beloved, white racial grief erupts when you fear losing your dominance. You get mighty angry at our demand that you live up to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/beloved-white-racial-grief-erupts-when-you-fear-losing-your-dominance/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [The whole book experience was a look into another world, the world of Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-kramer/the-whole-book-experience-was-a-look-into-another-world-the-world-of/) [Jerry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-kramer/) Browse all 35 Gore Vidal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. 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