Public opinion, because of the tremendous urge to conformity in gregarious animals, is less tolerant than any system of law.

What was happening was only the working-out of a process that had started years ago. The first step had been a secret, involuntary thought, the second had been the opening of the diary. He had moved from thoughts to words, and now from words to actions. The last step was something that would happen in the Ministry of Love. He had accepted it. The end was contained in the beginning.

He wondered vaguely whether in the abolished past it had been a normal experience to lie in bed like this, in the cool of a summer evening, a man and a woman with no clothes on, making love when they chose, talking of what they chose, not feeling any compulsion to get up, simply lying there and listening to peaceful sounds outside. Surely there could never have been a time when that seemed ordinary?

I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind except that you happen to be insane.

Power-worship blurs political judgment because it leads, almost unavoidably, to the belief that present trends will continue. Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.

A sahib has got to act like a sahib; he has got to appear resolute, to know his own mind and do definite things.

At fifty everyone has the face he deserves.