Prolonged, indiscriminate reviewing of books is a quite exceptionally thankless, irritating and exhausting job. It not only involves praising trash but constantly inventing reactions towards books about which one has no spontaneous feeling whatever.

Quote by George Orwell

Topics: Books Quotes

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

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...

Liberal: a power worshipper without power.

Liberal: a power worshipper without power.

The Catholic and the Communist are alike in assuming that an opponent cannot be both...

The Catholic and the Communist are alike in assuming that an opponent cannot be both...

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil.

War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil.

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

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...

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...

A man receiving charity always hates his benefactor- it is a fixed characteristic of human...

A man receiving charity always hates his benefactor- it is a fixed characteristic of human...

The intellectual is different from the ordinary man, but only in certain sections of his...

The intellectual is different from the ordinary man, but only in certain sections of his...

The aim of a joke is not to degrade the human being, but to remind...

The aim of a joke is not to degrade the human being, but to remind...

In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues...

In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues...

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...

Myths which are believed in tend to become true.

Myths which are believed in tend to become true.

Serious sport is war minus the shooting.

Serious sport is war minus the shooting.

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...

War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going...

War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going...

Many people genuinely do not want to be saints, and it is probable that some...

Many people genuinely do not want to be saints, and it is probable that some...