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
The capitalists owned everything in the world, and everyone else was their slave. They owned all the land, all the houses, all the factories, and all the money. If anyone disobeyed them they could throw him into prison, or they could take his job away and starve him to death. When any ordinary person spoke to a capitalist he had to cringe and bow to him, and take off his cap and address him as 'Sir'
Interpretation
This quote critiques the power dynamics between capitalists and workers, suggesting a dehumanizing relationship.
George Orwell highlights the stark divide between the wealthy capitalists who control all resources and the ordinary people who are subjugated by this system. It emphasizes how capitalism creates a hierarchical society where the masses are reduced to servitude, forced to exhibit deference to their economic superiors, thus critiquing social injustices and the moral implications of wealth disparity.
In practice
In a speech addressing economic inequalities, one might use this quote to illustrate the oppressive structures of capitalism.
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.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Political writing in our time consists almost entirely of prefabricated phrases bolted together like the pieces of a child's Meccano set. It is the unavoidable result of self-censorship. To write in plain, vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox.
Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the age of seven or eight onwards.
As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.
It is fatal to look hungry. It makes people want to kick you.
There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.
A country which does not respect the rights of its own citizens will not respect the rights of its neighbours
As the end approaches, there are no longer any images from memory - there are only words.
If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values: they're hobbies.
Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in.
The woods of Arcady are dead, And over is their antique joy; Of old the world on dreaming fed Gray Truth is now her painted toy.
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