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

Oceania was at war with Eurasia; therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.

Oceania was at war with Eurasia; therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.

Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear

Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear

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

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

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.

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...

Myths which are believed in tend to become true.

Myths which are believed in tend to become true.

Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship...

Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship...

He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the...

He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the...

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...

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...

Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the...

Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the...

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...

(Mankind) is not likely to salvage civilization unless he can evolve a system of good...

(Mankind) is not likely to salvage civilization unless he can evolve a system of good...

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

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

Probably the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton, but the opening...

Probably the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton, but the opening...

Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give...

Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give...

Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it,...

Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it,...

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...

On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not...

On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not...