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I have always regarded as a stroke of good fortune that I was not born or brought up in a small American town; they may be the backbone of the nation, but they are also the backbone of ignorance, bigotry, and boredom, all in vast quantities.
Gore Vidal
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The author values the diversity of experiences over the limitations often found in small, homogeneous towns.

Gore Vidal's quote reflects his belief that being raised outside of a small American town spared him from the ignorance and narrow-mindedness that can flourish in such insular environments. While he acknowledges that small towns play a critical role in American culture, he critiques their tendency to foster bigotry and a lack of intellectual stimulation, suggesting that a broader worldview is essential for personal growth.

Themes

IgnoranceBigotryBoredomSmall TownsPhilosophyDiversity

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about urban versus rural upbringing, one might quote Gore Vidal to emphasize the importance of exposure to diverse perspectives.

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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.
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