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The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country – and we haven’t seen them since.

Gore Vidal

I’m always an optimist!
GORE VIDAL

Myself Optimism
In the writing of novels, there is the problem of how to shape a narrative.
GORE VIDAL

Novel Problem Shape Writing
Baseball is the favorite American sport because it’s so slow. Any idiot can follow it. And just about any idiot can play it.
GORE VIDAL

Baseball Play Slow Sports
After adolescence, if one’s life is sufficiently interesting, the desire to tell oneself stories diminishes.
GORE VIDAL

Diminish Interesting Life Oneself Story
In writing and politicking, it’s best not to think about it, just do it.
GORE VIDAL

Best Thinking Writing
That loyal retainer of the Chase Manhattan Bank, the American president.
GORE VIDAL

Bank Loyalty President
Envy is the central fact of American life.
GORE VIDAL

Central Fact Life
The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes.
GORE VIDAL

Himself Interesting Money
Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.
GORE VIDAL

Death Friendship Myself Success
Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.
GORE VIDAL

Democracy Form High Ourselves Scale
The first grown-up book that I read on my own was a nineteenth-century edition of ‘Tales from Livy’ that I’d found in my grandfather’s library.
GORE VIDAL

Book Edition Grown Library Reading
The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country – and we haven’t seen them since.
GORE VIDAL

Country Finding People State
Until very recently, the artist was a magician who did his magic in public view but kept himself and his effects a matter of mystery.
GORE VIDAL

Artist Himself Magic Mystery Public View
That is sad until one recalls how many bad books the world may yet be spared because of the busyness of writers.
GORE VIDAL

Busy Oneself Sadness Writing
Gossip is conversation about people.
GORE VIDAL

Conversation Gossip People
Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.
GORE VIDAL

Candidate Democracy Issues Place
Why not just eliminate the federal income tax?
GORE VIDAL

Elimination Income Tax
Boys don’t like girls around when they do boy things.
GORE VIDAL

Character Human Male Nature
I can understand companionship.
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Companionship Understand
World War II made prosperous the United States, which had been undergoing a depression for a dozen years, and made very rich those magnates and their managers who govern the republic – with many a wink – in the people’s name.
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Depression Government Manager Name People Public Rich War
Policemen are seldom tried for their crimes, or indeed, held responsible for what they do, which disturbs the peace and causes distress among the orderly.
GORE VIDAL

Crime Disturb Order Peace Police Responsibility
Like the TV networks, once our government has a hit, it will be repeated over and over again.
GORE VIDAL

Government Repeat Willing
The behaviour of President Bush on 11 September certainly gives rise to not unnatural suspicions.
GORE VIDAL

Natural President Rise Suspicion
I never said I was gay, because I don’t think anyone is.
GORE VIDAL

Myself Sexuality Thinking
There is only one party in the United States: the Property party… and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat.
GORE VIDAL

Democracy Party Politics Republic
It’s always best to stay out of other people’s divorces. And their civil wars.
GORE VIDAL

Best Divorce Finding Ourselves People Stay
It is always a delicate matter, when a friend or acquaintance becomes president.
GORE VIDAL

Delicate Friendship President

The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country – and we haven’t seen them since.

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The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country – and we haven’t seen them since.

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