It’s hard to choose the best 1984 quotes, because every paragraph is beautifully constructed. I absolutely love this book, it’s easily one of my all time favorites. So it was well worth the time to analyze them all. George Orwell was a master with linguistics.
Not only that, but it seems like he gave an instruction manual to the elites to follow on how to subvert a country, because many of the things he fictionally stated the ministries did – our own politicians also do.
So every once in awhile I cave and have to pick it back up again.
Because of that, I recently re-read 1984 by George Orwell. And I picked up a few quotes along the way that I have always thought were truly powerful messages. I truly believe the pen can be much mightier than the sword (unless you’re in an actual sword fight, in which case – drop the pen).
Without further ado:
here is the Top Ten Best 1984 Quotes
- 1. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.
- 2. He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.
- 3. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power – pure power.
- 4. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.
- 5. We are at war with Eastasia. We have always been at war with Eastasia.
- 6. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.
- 7. Until they became conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.
- 8. The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness and for the great bulk of mankind, happiness is better.
- 9. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else.
- 10. Sanity is not statistical.
And why not, here’s one more freebie:
- 11. Big Brother is watching you
If you haven’t read it yet, you absolutely should. It’s an excellent novel and provides a lot of critical thinking when you compare it to modern day society.
Do you think I missed any? What’s your favorite 1984 quote?
“Big brother is watching you”
Ain’t that the truth!
Well, that part of the book certainly came true!
Great book recommendation. Don’t forget Farenheit!
Those dastardly firemen, always burning books!
LOVED farenheit! It was an excellent book. I have never read 1984. I think i’ll grab the kindle version and give it a read next week. Sounds interesting
Have to agree, I loved Farenheit as well. Still, not as much as 1984!