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
As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The effectiveness of socialism is often undermined by the behavior of those who support it.
In this quote, George Orwell suggests that just as the Christian faith can sometimes be negatively impacted by the actions of its followers, the principles of socialism can be tarnished by the conduct of its advocates. This highlights a broader theme regarding how individuals' behaviors and beliefs can shape perceptions of ideological systems.
Themes
SocialismChristianityAdherentsPerceptionIdeology
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a debate about the impact of individual supporters on political ideologies.
More from George Orwell
All quotes βThe creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
George OrwellRead
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.
George OrwellRead
Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the age of seven or eight onwards.
George OrwellRead
It is fatal to look hungry. It makes people want to kick you.
George OrwellRead
I sometimes think that the price of liberty is not so much eternal vigilance as eternal dirt.
George OrwellRead
Similar quotes
Politics matter, but politics can't come first. If politics come first in your life, something is wrong with you. It's a sad thing.
Ben SasseRead
Congress is, after all, not a body of laymen unfamiliar with the commonplaces of our law. This legislation was the formulation of the two Judiciary Committees, all of whom are lawyers, and the Congress is predominately a lawyers' body.
Felix FrankfurterRead
Having been blacklisted from working in television during the McCarthy era, I know the harm of government using private corporations to intrude into the lives of innocent Americans. When government uses the telephone companies to create massive databases of all our phone calls it has gone too far.
Studs TerkelRead
Our tax policy is engineered by people who view tax as a means of achieving changes in our social structure.
Ronald ReaganRead
Citizens United said that transparency would be the disinfectant, but (c)(4)'s are warm, wet, moist incubators. There is no disinfectant.
Stephen ColbertRead
All my games were political games; I was, like Joan of Arc, perpetually being burned at the stake.
Indira GandhiRead