Teaching has ruined more American novelists than drink.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that the influence of education on American novelists can be more detrimental to their creativity than alcohol.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights a provocative perspective on the impact of formal education, specifically in the field of writing. It implies that the conventional teaching methods and structures associated with literature can stifle originality and creativity, ultimately hindering the development of the novelist's voice and perspective. Instead of fostering free thought and innovation, education may impose constraints that can limit artistic expression, comparable to the effects of excessive drinking.
In practice
Using this quote at a writer's workshop to encourage participants to think outside the box.
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.
The art of good teaching begins when we can answer the questions our students are really trying to ask us, if only they knew how to do so.
I think we should stop asking people in their 20s what they 'want to do' and start asking them what they don't want to do. Instead of asking students to 'declare their major' we should ask students to 'list what they will do anything to avoid.' It just makes a lot more sense.
Look at any country that's plagued with poverty, disease or violence; the antidote is girls. Girls are the antibodies to many of society's ills.
Cramming seeks to stamp things in by intense application immediately before the ordeal. But a thing thus learned can form but few associations.
If people want to be better writers, they can't just read the blogs! You've got to look at something that's outside this rushing world of evanescent words.
If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they're happy.
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