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
People invent new machines and improve existing ones almost unconsciously, rather as a Somnambulist will go walking in his sleep. The interesting puzzle in our times is that we so willingly sleepwalk through the process of reconstituting the conditions of human existence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We often innovate without realizing it, like a sleepwalker unaware of their actions.
George Orwell suggests that modern society develops new technologies and refines old ones almost instinctively, much like a person who sleepwalks, unaware of their surroundings. This raises concerns about how we engage with technology and the implications it has on our lives, as we often do so without conscious thought or critical reflection on the consequences of those innovations on human existence.
Themes
TechnologyInnovationUnconsciousSocietyExistence
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence at a tech conference.
More from George Orwell
All quotes →The 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.
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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.
George OrwellRead
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.
George OrwellRead
It is fatal to look hungry. It makes people want to kick you.
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