“Recognizing that the world is governed by a minority, the sexually active, and that they hold sway of a huge majority of the nonsexual, those people too young or too old or too poor or too homely or sick or crazy or powerless to be able to afford sexual partners (or the luxury of systematic, sustained and shared introspection, so sexual in its own way). All advertisements and films and songs are addressed to sexuals, to their rash whims and finicky tastes.” PeopleWorldWayAbleFilmYoungSongPoorCrazyHugeTasteSickMajorityActivePartnersLuxuryMinoritiesIntrospectionPowerlessRecognizingSexuallySystematicWhimAdvertisementsHomely Author:Edmund White
“There is an enormous pressure placed on gay novelists because they are the only spokespeople. The novelist's first obligation is to be true to his own vision, not to be some sort of common denominator or public relations man to all gay people.” PeopleMenFirstsCommonVisionGayRelationPressureEnormousObligationBeing TrueNovelistsGay PeoplePublic RelationsCommon DenominatorSpokespeople Author:Edmund White
“For most Northerners, Texas is the home of real men. The cowboys, the rednecks, the outspoken self-made right-wing millionaires strike us as either the best or worst examples of American manliness.... The ideal is not an illusion nor is it contemptible, no matter what damage it may have done. Many people who scorn it in conversation want to submit to it in bed. Those who believe machismo reeks of violence alone choose to forget it once stood for honor as well.” PeopleMenWantBelieveWellsMayMadeRealSelfMatterDoneHomeForgetViolenceWorstExampleHonorBedConversationIllusionIdealsNo Matter WhatWingsStrikesDamageTexasSubmitCowboyScornForget ItMillionaireRight WingRedneckReal MenSelf MadeOutspokenManlinessMachismoNortherners Author:Edmund White
“I'm an atheist, I always thought, 'This is it.' If there is going to be a heaven, it should be on earth. I feel much happier than most people. I'm fairly stoic about death, but I'm not keen on dying if it's going to be long and protracted. I don't have dark nights of the soul, except occasionally. I'm such a little busy bee.” PeopleIfsFeelsShouldLittlesLongSoulEarthNightHeavenDarkDyingBusyAtheistBeesStoicDark NightDark Night Of The SoulBusy Bee Author:Edmund White
“The imagination is not the consolation people pretend. It can even be regarded as the admission of some sort of failure.” PeopleImaginationConsolationAdmission Book:A Boy's Own Story: Picador Classic Source: A Boy's Own Story: Picador Classic
“Biography can be the most middle-class of all forms, the judgment of little people avenging themselves on the great.” PeopleLittlesFormClassMiddleJudgmentMiddle ClassBiographiesAvenging Author:Edmund White
