To preserve the human race, it is now necessary to reorganize society. To this end, an Authority must be created with the power to control human population, to redistribute food, to purify air, water, soil, to re-pattern the cities.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the need for a radical restructuring of society to ensure the survival of humanity.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights the urgent necessity for a new authoritative system aimed at addressing critical issues facing humanity, such as population control, environmental restoration, and urban planning. It suggests that to safeguard the future of the human race, society must undergo significant changes that will allow for the equitable distribution of resources and a more sustainable way of living.
In practice
During a panel discussion on climate change, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of societal transformation.
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.
What people have the capacity to choose, they have the ability to change.
Throughout the 20th century, we created wealth through vertically integrated corporations. Now, we create wealth through networks. We are at a turning point in human history, where the industrial age has finally run out of gas.
Fifteen years ago, if you said business will help save the environment people would have laughed at you. Today, I believe that is a serious proposition.
Our future is like that of the passengers on a small pleasure boat sailing quietly above the Niagara Falls, not knowing that the engines are about to fail.
I finally learned to accept that I can't make radio play blues any more than I could get Reagan out of the White House.
Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.
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