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George Orwell Quotes - Page 5

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The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is

The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield.

Faith, Believe, Reality

After World War II; quoted in the London Financial Times, 13 May 2003.

They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening

Reality, Tyrants, Events

George Orwell (2003). “1984”, Plume Books

It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a society as our own without wanting to change it.

Thinking, Persons, Thinking Person

George Orwell, Sonia Orwell, Ian Angus (1968). “The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell: An age like this, 1920-1940”, Harvill Secker

Liberal: a power worshipper without power.

Worship, Politician, Thrive

The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness and for the great bulk of mankind, happiness is better.

Lying, Choices, Freedom And Happiness

Power is not a means; it is an end.

Mean, Ends

Nineteen Eighty-Four pt. 3, ch. 3 (1949)

There are some things only intellectuals are crazy enough to believe.

Inspirational, Crazy, Believe

Those who 'abjure' violence can do so only because others are committing violence on their behalf.

Violence, Behalf, Can Do

George Orwell, Ian Angus, Sheila Davison (1998). “The Complete Works of George Orwell: I belong to the Left: 1945”

By 'nationalism' I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions and tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled 'good' or 'bad'...By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power.

Block, Believe, Mean

You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves.

Empty, Hollow

George Orwell (2001). “The Complete Novels of George Orwell: Animal Farm, Burmese Days, A Clergyman's Daughter, Coming Up for Air, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, Nineteen Eighty-Four”, p.1351, Penguin UK

In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer.

Real, Hammers, Anvils

George Orwell (1970). “A Collection of Essays”, p.159, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule , between good and evil but between two evils. You can let the Nazis rule the world : that is evil; or you can overthrow them by war , which is also evil. There is no other choice before you, and whichever you choose you will not come out with clean hands.

War, Hands, Two

George Orwell, Keith Gessen (2009). “All Art Is Propaganda: Critical Essays”, p.175, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

England is the most class-ridden country under the sun. It is a land of snobbery and privilege, ruled largely by the old and silly.

Country, Silly, Land

George Orwell (2009). “Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays”, p.124, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.

Party, Endless

George Orwell (2012). “1984”, p.51, Oberon Books

As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.

Christian, Political, Advertising

The Road toWigan Pier ch. 11 (1937)

Every Joke is a Tiny Revolution

Humor, Tiny, Revolution

George Orwell, Ian Angus, Sheila Davison (1998). “The Complete Works of George Orwell: I have tried to tell the truth, 1943-1944”

Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.

Winning, Achievement, Corrupt Power

George Orwell, Ian Angus, Sheila Davison (1998). “The Complete Works of George Orwell: Smothered under journalism, 1946”

The object of power is power.

Power, Objects

Nineteen Eighty-Four pt. 3, ch. 3 (1949)

To survive it is often necessary to fight and to fight you have to dirty yourself.

Dirty, Fighting, Survival

The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.

Life, Wisdom, Believe

Shooting an Elephant 'Reflections on Gandhi'

Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting.

Jealousy, Sports, War

"The Sporting Spirit" (1945)

No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?

Believe, Animal, Decision

George Orwell (2016). “Animal Farm”, p.20, Hamilton Books

News is something somebody doesn't want printed; all else is advertising.

News, Want, Advertising

The fallacy is to believe that under a dictatorial government you can be free inside

Believe, Government, Fallacy

George Orwell (1986). “The complete works of George Orwell”

The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil.

Roots, Long, Evil

George Orwell (2009). “Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays”, p.221, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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