The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink.

Quote by George Orwell

Topics: George Orwell Quotes

Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting...

Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting...

Patriotism is usually stronger than class hatred, and always stronger than internationalism.

Patriotism is usually stronger than class hatred, and always stronger than internationalism.

Progress is not an illusion, it happens, but it is slow and invariably disappointing.

Progress is not an illusion, it happens, but it is slow and invariably disappointing.

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...

The child thinks of growing old as an almost obscene calamity, which for some mysterious...

The child thinks of growing old as an almost obscene calamity, which for some mysterious...

A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still...

A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still...

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

Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.

Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.

For a creative writer possession of the ruth is less important than emotional sincerity.

For a creative writer possession of the ruth is less important than emotional sincerity.

As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents

As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents

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...

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...

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

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

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to...

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to...

There is hardly such a thing as a war in which it makes no difference...

There is hardly such a thing as a war in which it makes no difference...

Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a...

Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a...

Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life...

Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life...

The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less on their dispositions than on their...

The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less on their dispositions than on their...

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to...

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to...

To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others

To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others