If Henry Miller often sounded like a village idiot, it is because, like Whitman, he was the rest of the village as well.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that Henry Miller's unique voice resonates with the commonality of human experience, much like Walt Whitman.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights the notion that great authors often embody the collective thoughts and emotions of their era. By comparing Henry Miller to a 'village idiot,' it suggests that his unconventional opinions and style reflect a deeper truth that resonates with the universal human experience, akin to Walt Whitman's profound connection to the common man. This suggests that the simplicity or eccentricity of their expressions may reveal essential truths about society and individuality.
In practice
In a discussion about the value of authenticity in literature, you can use this quote to emphasize the importance of expressing genuine thoughts.
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.
If you are seeking for security, certainty, your eyes will become closed. And you will be less and less surprised and you will lose the capacity to wonder. Once you lose the capacity to wonder, you have lost religion. Religion is the opening of your wondering heart. Religion is a receptivity for the mysterious that surrounds us. Don't seek security; don't seek advice on how to live your life.
The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do this in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external or superadded. Therefore, anything that has the semblance of an external authority is rejected by Zen. Absolute faith is placed in a man's own inner being. For whatever authority there is in Zen, all comes from within.
However much I have frequented the mystics, deep down I have always sided with the Devil; unable to equal him in power, I have tried to be worthy of him, at least, in insolence, acrimony, arbitrariness and caprice.
There are hidden contradictions in the minds of people who "love Nature" while deploring the "artificialities" with which "Man has spoiled Nature.'" The obvious contradiction lies in their choice of words, which imply that Man and his artifacts are not part of "Nature" : but beavers and their dams are.
When...we, as individuals, obey laws that direct us to behave for the welfare of the community as a whole, we are indirectly helping to promote the pursuit of happiness by our fellow human beings.
If the meanest man in the republic is deprived of his rights,then every man in the republic is deprived of his rights.
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