Gore Vidal, an influential and often controversial American writer, left a lasting legacy through his hundreds of essays and dozens of novels, garnering a reputation for his sharp wit and intellectual rigor. His quotes encapsulate a brilliant mind unafraid to tackle society's toughest questions, making them as relevant today as they were when he first uttered them. In this exploration, we categorize Vidal's pithy observations and insights into ten topics, each peppered with twelve standout quotes that demonstrate his ability to capture both the absurdity and profundity of life.
Politics and Power Quotes
"Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so."
"The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country—and we haven't seen them since."
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
"There is not one human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin."
"By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over."
"American society will never completely understand him. He’s too complex, too affable, cynical and, at times, too idealistic."
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"Politics is not for the simple or innocent."
"The penalty for success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
Society and Culture Quotes
"For a man to truly understand rejection, he must first be ignored by a cat."
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults."
"We never get anything unless we persuade people we know what we’re talking about."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"Love is not enough. It need not even be necessary."
"There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem."
Writing and Literature Quotes
"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue."
"I'm a born-again atheist."
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
"I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"The purpose of life is to fight maturity."
"There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
Love and Relationships Quotes
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Love is not enough. It need not even be necessary."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"We never get anything unless we persuade people we know what we’re talking about."
"I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults."
"The penalty for success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
"I'm a born-again atheist."
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
"By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over."
"For a man to truly understand rejection, he must first be ignored by a cat."
American Identity Quotes
"The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country—and we haven't seen them since."
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over."
"Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin."
"Politics is not for the simple or innocent."
"American society will never completely understand him. He’s too complex, too affable, cynical and, at times, too idealistic."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"The penalty for success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so."
Cynicism and Sarcasm Quotes
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"There is not one human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults."
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."
"For a man to truly understand rejection, he must first be ignored by a cat."
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin."
War and Peace Quotes
"There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"Politics is not for the simple or innocent."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"We never get anything unless we persuade people we know what we’re talking about."
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
"American society will never completely understand him. He’s too complex, too affable, cynical and, at times, too idealistic."
Fame and Success Quotes
"The penalty for success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"I'm all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults."
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."
"There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."
Religion and Belief Quotes
"I'm a born-again atheist."
"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
"By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Write something even if it's just a suicide note."
"The penalty for success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
"Love is not enough. It need not even be necessary."
"We never get anything unless we persuade people we know what we’re talking about."
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."
"American society will never completely understand him. He’s too complex, too affable, cynical and, at times, too idealistic."
Human Nature Quotes
"The purpose of life is to fight maturity."
"Love is not enough. It need not even be necessary."
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."
"American society will never completely understand him. He’s too complex, too affable, cynical and, at times, too idealistic."
"I'm a born-again atheist."
"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."
"A good deed never goes unpunished."
"Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so."
"By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he's been bought ten times over."
"One should always beware of people who have ideas about doing great things with 'little' people."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
Final words
Gore Vidal’s quotes draw a vivid picture of a man both engaged in the world and deeply skeptical of its paths. His insights traverse politics, society, humanity, and personal philosophy with both humor and gravitas. He challenged the status quo and dared to voice questions that demanded uncomfortable answers. In doing so, Vidal not only critiqued the world around him; he invited us to inspect our own beliefs and assumptions. His words continue to inspire, provoke, and challenge us to think more deeply about the fabric of the world we inhabit. As you peruse these quotes, let them serve as a reminder of the power of sharp, incisive commentary and the enduring impact of a keenly observed life.