Gore Vidal dies aged 86: His most memorable quotes

THE venerated novelist, essayist, playwright and commentator Gore Vidal has died at the age of 86. Here is a selection of his most memorable quotes.

“Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.”

“Today’s public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence they can’t read them either.”

“The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so.”

“I wanted to be a politician and a movie star. But I was born a writer.”

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”

“It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.”

“A good deed never goes unpunished.”

“I don’t see us winning the war. We have made enemies of one billion Muslims.”

“Life was all a vain show but a mighty entertaining one.”

“Half of the American people have never read a newspaper.Half never voted for President.One hopes it is the same half

“Politics is showbusiness for ugly people.”

“By the time a man gets to be presidential material, he’s been bought ten times over

“I spent a lot of time in cemeteries as a kid. And you’re surrounded by other people’s codas in marble”.

“A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.”

“I was born a writer. If you’re born that, you can’t change it. You’re going to do it whether you want to or not.”