Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.
Interpretation
Style reflects oneβs true self and expression, ignoring external judgments.
This quote emphasizes the importance of individuality and confidence in expressing oneself. Gore Vidal suggests that true style comes from a deep understanding of oneself and a commitment to oneβs own voice, without being overly concerned about how others perceive it.
In practice
In a speech about self-confidence at a fashion event, one might quote Gore Vidal to emphasize the importance of personal style.
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.
Music is one of the noblest callings I can think of. It's the highest of all the art forms to me. For example, if my kid said to me, 'I want to give it all up,' whatever it is that they're doing, 'and I want to take my saxophone and go out,' I would say, 'May God go with you. This is a great and noble thing that you're doing.'
I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
Thanks to art, instead of seeing one world only, our own, we see that world multiply itself and we have at our disposal as many worlds as there are original artists, worlds more different one from the other than those which revolve in infinite space, worlds which, centuries after the extinction of the fire from which their light first emanated, whether it is called Rembrandt or Vermeer, send us still each one its special radiance.
While writing, I tend to repeat the same song, endlessly, for thousands of times. This helps me ignore any lyrics, and helps create a consistent mood for each book.
When I am writing, I do not distinguish between the natural and supernatural. Everything seems real. That is my world, you could say.
What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts go so fast. Fashion is instant language.
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