A Quote by Gore Vidal

As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action.

Gore Vidal

Quote Topics

Action Disguise Grow Grows Illuminate Language Societies Too Used Words

Quote Author

Gore Vidal
American - Writer
October 3, 1925 - July 31, 2012

As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests.

Gore Vidal

I don't see decadence really as what you do, because I don't do much at all that is decadent in my life. But I still am decadent. It's a state of mind, I think.

Marianne Faithfull

We use fashion for status and to beautify and there's nothing wrong with that, but when it becomes completely unbalanced, then you're living a decadent life. And when that happens on a global scale, you're living in a decadent world.

David LaChapelle

Societies who do not care for their young people and old people are decadent, decaying societies.

Suzan Shown Harjo

The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent and, with a few hard blows, they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken.

George W. Bush

Los Angeles, I don't like that town. Too decadent, and it's slimy.

Layne Staley

I started making work that I assumed would be far too garish, far too decadent, far too black for the world to care about. I, to this day, am thankful to whatever force there is out there that allows me to get away with painting the stories of people like me.