In almost every case (where the United States has fought wars) our overwhelming commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights has required us to support those regimes that would deny freedom, democracy and human rights to their own people.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the contradictions in U.S. foreign policy regarding democracy and human rights.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights the paradox in American foreign policy, where the commitment to promoting freedom and human rights often leads to alliances with oppressive regimes that violate these very principles. It suggests a moral ambiguity in the actions taken by the U.S. in pursuit of broader geopolitical goals, implying that supporting such regimes is a betrayal of the values that the nation stands for.
In practice
This quote can be used in a debate about foreign policy ethics.
We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of ours which connects kings and farm boys, artists and clerks. Let them see that the important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.
The presence of others who see what we see and hear what we hear assures us of the reality of the world and ourselves.
Yoga in Mayfair or Fifth Avenue, or in any other place which is on the telephone, is a spiritual fake.
There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it.
Part of the function of memory is to forget; the omni-retentive mind will break down and produce at best an idiot savant who can recite a telephone book, and at worst a person to whom every grudge and slight is as yesterday's.
Our real journey in life is interior.
The knight departing for new adventures offends his lady, yet she has nothing but contempt for him if he remains at her feet.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.