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George Orwell Quotes - Page 8

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I watched him [a 'fat Russian agent'] with some interest, for it was the first time that I had seen a person whose profession was telling lies -- unless one counts journalists.

I watched him [a 'fat Russian agent'] with some interest, for it was the first time that I had seen a person whose profession was telling lies -- unless one counts journalists.

Lying, Agents, Firsts

George Orwell (2016). “Homage to Catalonia / Down and Out in Paris and London”, p.148, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The heresy of heresies was common sense.

Common Sense, Common, Heresy

George Orwell (2014). “1984”, p.64, Arcturus Publishing

The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule, between good and evil but between two evils.

Two, Evil, Choices

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

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

Writing, Political Language, Trying

George Orwell, Keith Gessen (2009). “All Art Is Propaganda: Critical Essays”, p.279, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim-for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives -is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal.

Men, Abiding, Groups

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.1302, Penguin UK

When I talk to anyone or read the writings of anyone who has any axe to grind, I feel that intellectual honesty and balanced judgement have simply disappeared from the face of the earth. Everyone's thought is forensic, everyone is simply putting a "case" with deliberate suppression of his opponent's point of view, and, what is more, with complete insensitiveness to any sufferings except those of himself and his friends.

Honesty, Writing, Views

All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.

Future, Past, Thinking

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

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out always cut it out. Never use the passive voice where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Cutting, Thinking, Passive Voice

George Orwell (1953). “Shooting an Elephant: And Other Essays”

Literature is doomed if liberty of thought perishes.

Writing, Liberty, Literature

1946 'The Prevention of Literature', in Polemic, Jan.

No one is patriotic about taxes.

Patriotic, Patriotism, Taxes

George Orwell (2009). “Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays”, p.89, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Patriotism has nothing to do with Conservatism. It is actually the opposite of Conservatism, since it is a devotion to something that is always changing and yet is felt to be mystically the same.

Opposites, Devotion, Conservatism

George Orwell, Ian Angus, Sheila Davison (1998). “The Complete Works of George Orwell: A patriot after all, 1940-1941”

Myths which are believed in tend to become true.

Truth, Political, Belief

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

It is curious how people take it for granted that they have a right to preach at you and pray over you as soon as your income falls below a certain level.

Fall, People, Over You

George Orwell (2012). “Down and Out in Paris and London”, p.130, Lulu.com

The best books... are those that tell you what you know already.

Book, Nineteen, Insight

Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.

Power, Self, Deception

George Orwell (2005). “In defence of English cooking”, Penguin Hardcover

The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another.

Patriotic, Justice, Democracy

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

Perhaps a man really dies when his brain stops, when he loses the power to take in a new idea.

Men, Ideas, Brain

George Orwell (1969). “Coming Up for Air”, p.194, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The past is whatever the records and the memories agree upon.

Memories, Past, Agree Upon

George Orwell, A.M. Heath (2003). “Animal Farm and 1984”, p.305, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.

Struggle, Book, Writing

George Orwell (1970). “A Collection of Essays”, p.316, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve in God as personally dislike Him.

God, Atheist, Atheism

Down and Out in Paris and London ch. 30 (1933)

When I see an actual flesh-and-blood worker in conflict with his natural enemy, the policeman, I do not have to ask myself which side I am on.

Blood, Enemy, Flesh

George Orwell (2016). “Homage to Catalonia / Down and Out in Paris and London”, p.131, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

And if our book consumption remains as low as it has been, at least let us admit that it is because reading is a less exciting pastime than going to the dogs, the pictures or the pub, and not because books, whether bought or borrowed, are too expensive.

Dog, Book, Reading

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

One cannot really be a Catholic and grown up.

Atheist, Catholic, Religion

The modern writer who has influenced me most is W. Somerset Maugham .

Modern, Frills

If you kept the small rules, you could break the big ones.

Break, Bigs, Ifs

George Orwell, A.M. Heath (2003). “Animal Farm and 1984”, p.225, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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