Overcrowding in the cities is producing a collective madness in which irrational violence flourishes because man needs more space in which to be than the modern city allows.
Interpretation
Urban overcrowding leads to societal issues and irrational behavior due to the lack of personal space.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights the psychological and social impacts of living in densely populated urban environments. He suggests that the lack of personal space in modern cities can contribute to a sense of collective madness, where individuals feel trapped and resort to irrational violence as a coping mechanism for their frustrations and needs.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion on urban planning at a city council meeting.
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