1,535 Quotes by George Orwell

For a creative writer possession of the ‘truth’ is less important than emotional sincerity.

We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.

And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became truth.

Who cares?′ she said impatiently, ’it’s always one bloody war after another, and one knows the news is all lies anyway.

Suddenly his heart seemed to turn to ice and his bowels to water.

It is a mysterious thing, the loss of faith – as mysterious as faith itself.

Winston Smith: Does Big Brother exist? O’Brien: Of course he exists. Winston Smith: Does he exist like you or me? O’Brien: You do not exist.

All nationalistic distinctions – all claims to be better than somebody else because you have a different-shaped skull or speak a different dialect – are entirely spurious, but they are important so long as people believe in them.

I understand HOW. I do not understand WHY.