If one harbours anywhere in one's mind a nationalistic loyalty or hatred, certain facts, although in a sense known to be true, are inadmissible.
George OrwellRead
Bombing is not especially inhumane. War itself is inhumane and the bombing plane, which is used to paralyse industry and transport, is a relatively civilised weapon. 'Normal' or 'legitimate' warfare is just as destructive of inanimate objects and enormously so of human lives.
Interpretation
What this quote means
War is inherently inhumane, and bombing is merely one aspect of its brutality.
In this quote, George Orwell points out that the act of bombing in warfare is often viewed as particularly barbaric, yet he argues that all forms of warfare are equally inhumane. He suggests that the destruction and loss of life caused by war are the real atrocities, and that different weapons or methods of warfare should not distract us from the overall immorality of war itself.
Themes
WarInhumaneBombingViolenceDestructionHuman Life
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the ethics of warfare during a debate on military tactics.
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