If one harbours anywhere in one's mind a nationalistic loyalty or hatred, certain facts, although in a sense known to be true, are inadmissible.
George OrwellRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the nature of existence and reality as viewed by the Party in Orwell's dystopian society.
This quote from George Orwell highlights the theme of totalitarianism in his work '1984', where the concept of Big Brother symbolizes the omnipresent governmental authority that controls the lives of individuals. The conversation implies that the Party's reality is constructed in such a way that individual existence is denied, making personal truth subordinate to state ideology, emphasizing the fragility of personal identity in the face of oppressive power.
Themes
ExistenceBig BrotherPartyTotalitarianismIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about surveillance and privacy during a debate on government power.
More from George Orwell
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Political writing in our time consists almost entirely of prefabricated phrases bolted together like the pieces of a child's Meccano set. It is the unavoidable result of self-censorship. To write in plain, vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox.
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Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the age of seven or eight onwards.
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As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.
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It is fatal to look hungry. It makes people want to kick you.
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