In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. – George Orwell
The intellectual is different from the ordinary man, but only in certain sections of his personality, and even then not all the time. – George Orwell
In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act. – George Orwell
As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents. – George Orwell
Liberal: a power worshipper without power. – George Orwell
Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception. – George Orwell
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. – George Orwell
If you have embraced a creed which appears to be free from the ordinary dirtiness of politics – a creed from which you yourself cannot expect to draw any material advantage – surely that proves that you are in the right? – George Orwell
Patriotism is usually stronger than class hatred, and always stronger than internationalism. – George Orwell
Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious. – George Orwell
We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. – George Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. – George Orwell
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. – George Orwell
We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. – George Orwell
There are some ideas so wrong that only a very intelligent person could believe in them. – George Orwell
The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history. – George Orwell
Happiness can exist only in acceptance. – George Orwell
Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness. – George Orwell
Men are only as good as their technical development allows them to be. – George Orwell