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George Orwell on Independence Day

1903–1950

← All quotes by George Orwell

14 quotes

If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.

The fallacy is to believe that under a dictatorial government you can be free inside.

As I Please (1943)

Nationalism is power-hunger tempered by self-deception.

Notes on Nationalism (1945)

Threats to freedom of speech, writing and action, though often trivial in isolation, are cumulative in their effect and, unless checked, lead to a general disrespect for the rights of the citizen.

Take away freedom of speech, and the creative faculties dry up.

As I Please (1943)

At any given moment there is an orthodoxy, a body of ideas which it is assumed that all right-thinking people will accept without question.

The only salvation lies in returning to an unplanned economy, free competition, and emphasis on liberty rather than on security.

Since pacifists have more freedom of action in countries where traces of democracy survive, pacifism can act more effectively against democracy than for it. Objectively the pacifist is pro-Nazi.

One cannot see the modern world as it is unless one recognizes the overwhelming strength of patriotism, national loyalty.

The Lion and the Unicorn (1941)

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)

Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism.

Notes on Nationalism (1945)

Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power.

Notes on Nationalism (1945)

No one is patriotic about taxes.

Without a free press and the right of assembly, it is impossible not merely to appeal to outside opinion, but to bring a mass movement into being, or even to make your intentions known to your adversary.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: George Orwell (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.