"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"

Gore Vidal's quote reviews the interplay between social decrease and the deterioration of language, suggesting that as societies end up being decadent, language follows suit, becoming a tool of obfuscation rather than clarity. Vidal starts by highlighting that as societies grow decadent-- a term reflecting ethical or cultural decrease-- their language does too. This decay in language is not merely shallow; it's a reflection of much deeper social problems.

Vidal mentions that in a decadent society, language is manipulated to hide the true nature of actions, contrasting its original purpose of enlightenment. For example, the concept of "liberating a city by destroying it" is a plain illustration of how language can be twisted to mask brutal actions as noble ventures, successfully reversing the significance of words. Such linguistic adjustment serves to sterilize or justify actions that might otherwise be deemed inappropriate.

Additionally, Vidal highlights the confusion sown by such misleading language, particularly in the political arena. By suggesting that words are used to mystify, he emphasizes that language can be strategically utilized to cloud judgment and misinform people. This ends up being especially essential throughout elections, where the electorate may be controlled into voting "versus their own interests" due to the distorted stories provided to them. Here, Vidal suggests a deliberate undermining of democratic procedures through the abuse of language, where the true implications of policies are obfuscated, resulting in choices that do not line up with voters' actual requirements or benefits.

In essence, Vidal's quote acts as a cautionary reflection on the power of language and its possible abuse within a declining society. The deterioration of language not just shows societal decay but also perpetuates it, reinforcing the cycle of decadence by obscuring fact and controling public perception for the advantage of those in power. In such environments, crucial literacy ends up being essential in discerning the truth behind political rhetoric and guaranteeing that language fulfills its function in fostering understanding and development.