It is impossible to found a civilization on fear and hatred and cruelty. It would never endure.' 'Why not?' 'It would have no vitality. It would disintegrate. It would commit suicide.

Imperialism as he [Kipling] sees it is a sort of forcible evangelising.

He was conscious of nothing except the blankness of the page in front of him, the itching of the skin above his ankle, the blaring of the music, and a slight booziness caused by the gin.

Why should be fruit be held inferior to the flower?

Winston Smith: Does Big Brother exist? O'Brien: Of course he exists. Winston Smith: Does he exist like you or me? O'Brien: You do not exist.

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.

All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives lies a mystery.