Gore Vidal, author, playwright, actor, game show and talk show personality, intermittently scandalous celebrity, and out gay man before it was even somewhat comfortable to do so, died yesterday
I have read some of his writing, it was smart and literary and challenging. All words that apparently would describe the man as well.
His historical fiction (such as Lincoln) was brilliant.
A contemporary of Norman Mailer and Truman Capote, Vidal was out and defiant and scandalous. His writing won few awards, he ran for political office and failed, and was defiantly not an activist. He was proudly fond of drink and drugs and promiscuity, all of which he chronicled in his memoir.
He engaged in word fights with everyone, and was witty and smart and cynical. A famous quote was that the happiest words in the English language were “I told you so.” He was not warm and fuzzy.
Some of the many Gore Vidal super quotes…
I never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television.
It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.
Every time a friend success, I die a little.
Fifty percent of people don’t vote, and fifty percent don’t read newspapers. I hope it’s the same fifty percent.
Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.
Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.
A good deed never goes unpunished.
RIP Mr Vidal, you were one of a kind…
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