Quote by Gore Vidal

Many writers who choose to be active in the world lose not virtue but time, and that stillness without which literature cannot be made.


Many writers who choose to be active in the world lose not v

Summary

This quote suggests that writers who become too involved in worldly matters may sacrifice their productivity and ability to produce literature. According to the quote, writers require a sense of stillness or solitude to create their works. Being active in the world can divert their attention and consume their time, potentially hindering their literary output. The quote emphasizes the importance of having dedicated time for writing and avoiding distractions to maintain the purity and quality of literary pursuits.

By Gore Vidal
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A mighty monarch in the days of oldMade offer of high honour, wealth and gold,To one who should produce in form conciseA motto for his guidance, terse yet wise---A precept, soothing in his hours forlorn,Yet one that in his prosperous days would warn.Many the maxims sent the king, men say.The one he chose: This too shall pass away.Oh, jewel sentence from the mine of truth!What riches it contains for age or youth.No stately epic, measured and sublime,So comforts, or so counsels, for all timeAs these few words. Go write them on your heartAnd make them of your daily life a part.Has some misfortune fallen to your lot?This too will pass away--absorb the thought.And wait; your waiting will not be in vain,Time gilds with gold the iron links of pain.The dark to-day leads into light to-morrow;There is no endless joy, no endless sorrow.Are you upon earth's heights? No cloud in view?Go read your motto once again: This tooShall pass away; fame, glory, place and power,They are but little baubles of the hour,Flung by the ruthless years down in the dust.Take warning and be worthy of God's trust.Use well your prowess while it lasts; leave bloom,Not blight, to mark your footprints to the tomb.The truest greatness lies in being kind,The truest wisdom in a happy mind.He who desponds, his Maker's judgment mocks;The gloomy Christian is a paradox.Only the sunny soul respects its God.Since life is short we need to make it broad;Since life is brief we need to make it bright.Then keep the old king's motto well in sight,And let its meaning permeate each day.Whatever comes, This too shall pass away.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Poems of Po