10 George Orwell Quotes That Perfectly Predicted Life In Modern America

backseatLover12

Eric Arthur Blair, better known as George Orwell, as an English novelist, journalist, essayist and a noted critic. Many of his writings induced awareness of injustice, totalitarianism, and socialism. Among his many great novels are 1984 and Animal Farm. He also wrote non-fiction works like The Road to Wigan Pier, where he details his working class life in the north of England.

Orwell spawned the term Orweillian, which is used to describe totalitarian and authoritarian social practices. It’s sometimes also used to describe people with whom you have remarkably minor disagreements with. He also spawned words that are common in today’s vernacular, like Big Brother and Cold War.

Orwell is easily one of the more prolific and profound authors of the 20th century. His words ring true even now. These are 10 of his quotes that speak volumes about life today in 2015.

1) “In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.”

2) “All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”

3) “War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it.”

4) “The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.”

5) “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

6) “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”

7) “In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer…”

8) “The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”

9) “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.”

10) “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.”

brianlux

Orwell was a genius and, great as these are, his work goes well beyond the more commonly recognized 1984 and Animal Farm.

These are excellent Orwell quotes. Thanks for posting them, bsL!

josevolution

Man very prophetic indeed

backseatLover12

#8 is for Team Conservative.

callen

backseatLover12 said:

#8 is for Team Conservative.

Think team conservative will have trouble understanding these points hence ability to be easily fooled.

USA USA USA.

God Bless US.

Get the Evildoers.

Freedom Isn't Free

Patriots.

Pledge of Allegiance.

National Anthem.

Support the Troops.

War machine fly byes.

callen

josevolution said:

Man very prophetic indeed

It's sad.

josevolution

callen said:

josevolution said:

Man very prophetic indeed

It's sad.

It really is im with you I'm an American not born here but became a citizen why because I really love this country , but the way I see this country has dramatically changed in the last 10 yrs ....

callen

I have a bit of hope. Having a thread like this is something.

Hope your doing well Jose.

josevolution

callen said:

I have a bit of hope. Having a thread like this is something.

Hope your doing well Jose.

Yes the flame is still lite I'm not giving up hope that the good of man kind will rise above all the crap that is being spewed by some factions of the populace ....hey thanks for asking friend I feel the best I have in yrs I wish the same to you ....

rgambs

callen said:

backseatLover12 said:

#8 is for Team Conservative.

Think team conservative will have trouble understanding these points hence ability to be easily fooled.

USA USA USA.

God Bless US.

Get the Evildoers.

Freedom Isn't Free

Patriots.

Pledge of Allegiance.

National Anthem.

Support the Troops.

War machine fly byes.

Don't forget Impeach King Nobama

brianlux

Number four seems very pertinent today:
4) “The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.”

We can thank much of our news media for that. And at least half of our politicians.

hedonist

Some of those quotes kick ass - the brain, thoughts, and intent behind them.

But the dig about "teams" again? Nah, not so much.

jeffbr

hedonist said:

Some of those quotes kick ass - the brain, thoughts, and intent behind them.

But the dig about "teams" again? Nah, not so much.

This.
It's funny that conservatives get called out here, but just about every one of these points illuminate the issues of statist governments, and both dems and reps have been actively building power and control for a long time. Anyone lib who thinks this is strictly a con issue is just as deluded as the faux news viewers they rag on. Both parties have had their periods of control, war mongering, power grabbing, and working for their own purposes and personal gain. There are no national politicians who are acting in our interest. For anyone to become a national player they have to shed their personal morals, make massive compromises, and sell themselves to the machine. Some if the resident libs here are every bit as deluded and complicit in the loss of freedom and liberty as the religious right. As someone not in either camp I find it as goofy as watching religionists arguing about the one true way.

Edit: BTW, good thread and great quotes!

brianlux

jeffbr said:

hedonist said:

Some of those quotes kick ass - the brain, thoughts, and intent behind them.

But the dig about "teams" again? Nah, not so much.

This.
It's funny that conservatives get called out here, but just about every one of these points illuminate the issues of statist governments, and both dems and reps have been actively building power and control for a long time. Anyone lib who thinks this is strictly a con issue is just as deluded as the faux news viewers they rag on. Both parties have had their periods of control, war mongering, power grabbing, and working for their own purposes and personal gain. There are no national politicians who are acting in our interest. For anyone to become a national player they have to shed their personal morals, make massive compromises, and sell themselves to the machine. Some if the resident libs here are every bit as deluded and complicit in the loss of freedom and liberty as the religious right. As someone not in either camp I find it as goofy as watching religionists arguing about the one true way.

Edit: BTW, good thread and great quotes!

I didn't see any of this as a dems vs reps partisan issue and I doubt Orwell would have either. And I'm not sure calling some people here "libs" and "deluded" will have any positive effect on anyone (but I get it that that's not what you were going for.)

Carry on.

jeffbr

I wasn't trying to necessarily have a positive effect. Just pointing out hypocracy. I completely agree with you that Orwell wouldnt have made the quotes in a dem vs. rep way but some people here seem to see it that way. I agree with your post above about the media, and would suggest that it is significantly more than half the politicians.

brianlux

jeffbr said:

I wasn't trying to necessarily have a positive effect. Just pointing out hypocracy. I completely agree with you that Orwell wouldnt have made the quotes in a dem vs. rep way but some people here seem to see it that way. I agree with your post above about the media, and would suggest that it is significantly more than half the politicians.

I somewhat see what you are saying but I still don't see the need to talk about democrats vs republicans. On the other hand, I think it's fair to say that in general conservatives will have a more difficult time agreeing with the Orwell quotes than people who tend to be more progressive.

backseatLover12

josevolution said:

callen said:

josevolution said:

Man very prophetic indeed

It's sad.

It really is im with you I'm an American not born here but became a citizen why because I really love this country , but the way I see this country has dramatically changed in the last 10 yrs ....

10 years, yes, but the biggest difference to me is the last 15 or 20 years. Since 9/11 mostly, and since the 90s basically.

backseatLover12

brianlux said:

Number four seems very pertinent today:
4) “The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.”

We can thank much of our news media for that. And at least half of our politicians.

Yes definitely #4, and the idea that our perception equal reality and that facts, especially science facts, are no longer facts but opinions...

backseatLover12

brianlux said:

jeffbr said:

I wasn't trying to necessarily have a positive effect. Just pointing out hypocracy. I completely agree with you that Orwell wouldnt have made the quotes in a dem vs. rep way but some people here seem to see it that way. I agree with your post above about the media, and would suggest that it is significantly more than half the politicians.

I somewhat see what you are saying but I still don't see the need to talk about democrats vs republicans. On the other hand, I think it's fair to say that in general conservatives will have a more difficult time agreeing with the Orwell quotes than people who tend to be more progressive.

I've said it in other threads. Maintaining that we're on a side will in fact keep us a divided nation. You can bet on that. And I'll clarify myself.

#8: “The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”

Refer to the Wisconsin thread. Team Conservative in that thread would not even hear of it that there is a major national problem with the police and minorities even with all the factual evidence pointing it out. Not one of them would even acknowledge it and one or two even said that there is no problem at all.

rr165892

jeffbr said:

hedonist said:

Some of those quotes kick ass - the brain, thoughts, and intent behind them.

But the dig about "teams" again? Nah, not so much.

This.
It's funny that conservatives get called out here, but just about every one of these points illuminate the issues of statist governments, and both dems and reps have been actively building power and control for a long time. Anyone lib who thinks this is strictly a con issue is just as deluded as the faux news viewers they rag on. Both parties have had their periods of control, war mongering, power grabbing, and working for their own purposes and personal gain. There are no national politicians who are acting in our interest. For anyone to become a national player they have to shed their personal morals, make massive compromises, and sell themselves to the machine. Some if the resident libs here are every bit as deluded and complicit in the loss of freedom and liberty as the religious right. As someone not in either camp I find it as goofy as watching religionists arguing about the one true way.

Edit: BTW, good thread and great quotes!

Jeff,I also don't call either side home,I said before,we have taking similar opinions on quit a few issues(you are obviously a man of impecable taste).
Your statement above is no exception.This is def an issue by idiots on both sides of the isle.Keeping integrity as tough as that is in govt knows no one side of the isle .Locally we do have some on both sides that seem to keep it real and actually govern and advocate by addressing the issues of their constituents and not what party line says.

rr165892

callen said:

backseatLover12 said:

#8 is for Team Conservative.

Think team conservative will have trouble understanding these points hence ability to be easily fooled.

USA USA USA.

God Bless US.

Get the Evildoers.

Freedom Isn't Free

Patriots.

Pledge of Allegiance.

National Anthem.

Support the Troops.

War machine fly byes.

Cal,Don't forget here on Team C Keep your stinking hands off our guns is also popular.And since I know you have a special raging hard on for military fly overs,I would like to add the ever stunning pre football game /nascar race paratroopers proudly jumping with a flag and smoke trail.
And it's not listed but the Southern Girls at country concerts in Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots.That kinda Americana is very Important.One more special one just for you Baseball,Apple pie and Chevrolet(I had to work the Vette in somewhere,lol)