To speak today of a famous novelist is like speaking of a famous cabinetmaker or speedboat designer. Adjective is inappropriate to noun.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that labeling a novelist as 'famous' is as unconventional as labeling a cabinetmaker or speedboat designer in the same way.
Gore Vidal's quote implies that the term 'famous' does not truly capture the essence of a novelist's craft, much like it would not be appropriate to describe a cabinetmaker or speedboat designer as famous. This reflects on the nature of artistic expression and how society tends to categorize or elevate certain professions in ways that may obscure their true significance.
In practice
In a discussion about literature, I once quoted Gore Vidal to emphasize how society often mislabels artistic professions.
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.
We need to bring music to the people, even to those who normally do not listen to classical music.
Music is my mother and my father; it is my work and my rest...my blood...my compass...my love.
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
I think a lot of people who want to be musicians terrify their parents because they don't have a living example of it in their families, and I did. So I always knew that it was possible.
All things of beauty can speak to us of God, and I'm very happy to listen to and be inspired by people of every religious background.
I have come to the conclusion there is no point making anything if you're not going to make people laugh and cry.
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