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
It had become usual to give Napoleon the Credit for every Successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. You would often hear one hen remark to another, "Under the guidance of our leader, Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days" or two cows, enjoying a drink at the pool, would exclaim, "thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon, how excellent this water tastes!".
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the tendency to credit leaders for successes while ignoring the contributions of individuals.
George Orwell highlights the phenomenon of attributing every success to a leader, using the fictional examples of animals praising Napoleon for their achievements. This reflects a broader commentary on how societies often simplify complex narratives by glorifying leaders, overlooking the essential contributions of the collective community.
Themes
LeadershipSuccessCommunityContributionsCredit
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the role of leaders in team achievements.
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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