A scrupulous writer in every sentence that he writes will ask himself. . . What am I trying to say? What words will express it?...And he probably asks himself. . . Could I put it more shortly? But you are not obliged to go to all this trouble. You can shirk it by simply throwing open your mind and letting the ready-made phrases come crowding in. They will construct your sentences for you

One of the effects of a safe and civilized life is an immense over sensitiveness which makes all the primary emotions somewhat disgusting.

If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever.

All true tea lovers not only like their tea strong, but like it a little stronger with each year that passes.

The major problem of our time is the decay in the belief in personal immortality, and it cannot be dealt with while the average human being is either drudging like an ox or shivering in fear of the secret police... How right [the working classes] are to realize that the belly comes before the soul, not in the scale of values but in point of time!

You're only a rebel from the waist downwards,' he told her.

Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.