The atmosphere of orthodoxy is always damaging to prose, and above all it is completely ruinous to the novel, the most anarchical of all forms of literature.

Quote by George Orwell

Topics: George Orwell Quotes

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

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

The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but...

The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but...

Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he...

Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he...

In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.

In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.

The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the...

The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the...

If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they...

If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they...

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's...

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's...

All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives...

All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives...

But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.

But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

Whatever is funny is subversive, every joke is ultimately a custard pie... a dirty joke...

Whatever is funny is subversive, every joke is ultimately a custard pie... a dirty joke...

War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is Strength

War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is Strength

So much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who...

So much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who...

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

It is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to...

It is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to...

Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance...

Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance...

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve...

He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve...

I was born out of due time in the sense that by temperament and talent...

I was born out of due time in the sense that by temperament and talent...

It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe...

It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe...