Quote by Gore Vidal

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.

As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too

Summary

This quote implies that when societies decline morally, their language also declines. Words are no longer used to clarify or reveal truth but rather to deceive and obscure actions. An example given is how destroying a city is presented as a liberating act. The quote also suggests that language is intentionally used to confuse people, leading them to vote against their own interests during elections. In essence, this quote criticizes the manipulation and deterioration of language in decadent societies for ulterior motives.

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