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.
Interpretation
Gore Vidal critiques Ayn Rand's philosophy for promoting immorality through human greed and egotism.
In this quote, Gore Vidal expresses his strong disapproval of Ayn Rand's philosophy, suggesting that it is fundamentally immoral because it champions concepts like greed and egotism. He highlights the alarming trend of a growing audience that resonates with these ideas, indicating a troubling shift in societal values towards justifying self-interest at the expense of morality.
In practice
In a discussion about modern ethical philosophies, one might reference this quote to critique selfish ideologies.
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.
Envy is the central fact of American life.
The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness and everyone must choose his side.
You will never understand who you are until you understand who God is.
What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote.
Anything whose presence or absence makes no discernible difference is no essential part of the whole.
You say that your fare told you that he was a detective?" "Yes, he did." "When did he say this?" "When he left me." "Did he say anything more?" "He mentioned his name." Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me. "Oh, he mentioned his name, did he? That was imprudent. What was the name that he mentioned?" “His name," said the cabman, "was Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
To like an individual because he's black is just as insulting as to dislike him because he isn't white.
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