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
Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having toothache... Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of a perfect world often highlights individuals' dissatisfaction rather than genuine happiness.
In this quote, George Orwell critiques the notion of Utopia, suggesting that those who dream of a perfect existence are often motivated by their current discontent. Just as a person with a toothache believes happiness is the absence of pain, dreamers of utopia may reveal their personal voids in their relentless pursuit of perfection, leading to a realization that true fulfillment doesn't stem from idealistic visions but rather from accepting and navigating reality.
Themes
UtopiaHappinessPerfectionContentmentPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about societal reforms, this quote can emphasize the dangers of striving for unattainable ideals.
More from George Orwell
All quotes →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.
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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.
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Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the age of seven or eight onwards.
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As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.
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It is fatal to look hungry. It makes people want to kick you.
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