Stupidity was as necessary as intelligence, and as difficult to attain.

the mute protest in your own bones

In the face of pain there are no heroes.

There is hardly such a thing as a war in which it makes no difference who wins. Nearly always one side stands more of less for progress, the other side more or less for reaction.

For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.

Does Big Brother exist?" "Of course he exists. The Party exists. Big Brother is the embodiment of the Party." "Does he exist in the same way as I exist?" "You do not exist.

Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence.