“Religions are manipulated in order to serve those who govern society and not the other way around.”

—  Gore Vidal

"Sex Is Politics" (1979)
1980s, The Second American Revolution (1983)

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Gore Vidal 163
American writer 1925–2012

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Context: The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.

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