American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Gore VidalRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of expressing our true selves and the emotions that connect us, regardless of social status.
Gore Vidal's quote suggests that we need to embrace and reveal our innermost selves to the world, as it is this shared emotional experience that unites people from all walks of life. By focusing on the emotions of love rather than its superficial forms, we can foster deeper connections that transcend societal boundaries and enhance our understanding of one another.
Themes
LoveEmotionConnectionIdentityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal identity and acceptance, one might quote this to emphasize the value of being open about one's feelings.
More from Gore Vidal
All quotes →Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
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The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
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For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
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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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Envy is the central fact of American life.
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