10 George Orwell Quotes that Predicted Life in 2014 America

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Written by Justin King | The Anti-Media

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George Orwell ranks among the most profound social critics of the modern era. Some of his quotations, more than a half a century old, show the depth of understanding an enlightened mind can have about the future.

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.”

Though many in the modern age have the will to bury their head in the sand when it comes to political matters, nobody can only concern themselves with the proverbial pebble in their shoe. If one is successful in avoiding politics, at some point the effects of the political decisions they abstained from participating in will reach their front door. More often than not, by that time the person has already lost whatever whisper of a voice the government has allowed them.

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

Examining the nightly news in the run up to almost any military intervention will find scores of talking heads crying for blood to flow in the streets of some city the name of which they just learned to pronounce. Once the bullets start flying, those that clamored for war will still be safely on set bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of the carnage while their stock in Raytheon climbs.

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

It’s pretty self-explanatory and while it may be hard to swallow, it’s certainly true. All it takes is a quick look at who benefited from the recent wars waged by the United States to see Orwell’s quip take life.

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

My most prized books are a collection of history books from around the world. I have an Iraqi book that recounts the glory of Saddam Hussein’s victory over the United States in 1991. I have books from three different nations claiming that one of their citizens was the first to fly. As some of the most powerful nations in the world agree to let certain facts be “forgotten,” the trend will only get worse. History is written by the victor, and the victor will never be asked if he told the truth.

Huffington Post journalist detained by military police in Ferguson, Missouri

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

Even without commentary, the reader is probably picturing Edward Snowden or Chelsea Manning. The revolutions of the future will not be fought with bullets and explosives, but with little bits of data traveling around the world destroying the false narratives with which governments shackle their citizens.

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

Make no mistake about it; if an article does not anger someone, it is nothing more than a public relations piece. Most of what passes for news today is little more than an official sounding advertisement for a product, service, or belief.

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

In every conflict, it is not the side that can inflict the most damage, but the side that can sustain the most damage that ultimately prevails. History is full of situations in which a military “won the battles but lost the war.

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.”

Haditha. Panjwai. Maywand District. Mahmudiyah. These names probably don’t ring a bell, but it is almost a certainty that the reader is aware of the brutality that occurred in Benghazi. The main difference is that in the first four incidents, those committing the acts of brutality were wearing an American flag on their shoulder.

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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.”

Everyday there is a new form of censorship or a new method of forcing people into self-censorship, and the people shrug it off because it only relates to a small minority. By the time the people realize their ability to express disapproval has been completely restricted, it may be too late. That brings us to Orwell’s most haunting quote.

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

Once the people are indoctrinated with nationalistic beliefs, and the infrastructure to protect them from some constantly-changing and ever-expanding definition of an enemy is in place, there is no ability for the people to regain liberty. By the time all of the pieces are in place, not only is opportunity to regain freedom lost, but the will to achieve freedom has also evaporated. The reader will truly love Big Brother.

This article is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Justin King and TheAntiMedia.org

 

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joel

i read orwell/huxley and others in the sixties as a dumbass teenager, yet these authors left a lasting mark, which slowly turned me into a completely different person. this site has a way of hitting the mark. suppose google will be on the attack again soon.

Tony B
Tony B

A comment from Wales, UK. I also read Orwell and other classics in the 1960s as a teenager. I thought then that Orwell painted a bleak dystopian view that I thought was unlikely to come about. I joined the British Labour Party as a teenager and was told by my party elders that my views were too idealistic and I’d see it all differently when I grew up. Sorry but my views did not ameliorate I now see that Orwell was a true visionary and our family are still rereading his works amongst all the great literature of today (much American). The British Labour Party is largely a functionary of international neoliberal politics as are the other UK political parties. I have hope for the British Green party, which is not [yet] neoliberal; the struggle to build a fairer world is more of a challenge than ever.

Bertrand Russell was also a notable commentator his Nobel lecture in his 1950 titled “What Desires Are Politically Important?” he stated; “All human activity is prompted by desire.” “But man differs from other animals in one very important respect, and that is that he has some desires which are, so to speak, infinite, which can never be fully gratified, and which would keep him restless even in Paradise.”

Four in particular are “acquisitiveness, rivalry, vanity, and love of power”. Hence the need for politics to function for all – not just an elite who have captured our world.

faerie
faerie

We are governed by consent. It turns out you are free to govern yourself if you wish, less expensive, less stressful and I’ve got the paperwork down to a to do list.
Know this…you are owned (yes owned) by the state via that nifty little bit of paper called a birth certificate. This was a fraudulent act on the states behalf (full disclosure not given=contract null and void) thus you can reveal the fraud and step out of this game whensoever you choose.
The system has been carefully designed to enslave us but it needs our consent to do so.
Please check it for your elf…there’s plenty if you forage on t’internet, babylon is fallen and lose the name are good places to start searching.
Rise slaves, claim your freedom.

dan
dan

Orwell aka Eric Blair was a Freemason/Rosicrucian. He was not a visionary more like an insider. He was an agent of the NWO . Nothing is written or televised unless approved by the real owners of this worlds . They follow the left hand path.

Zeist
Zeist

I had also read Orwell in my teens in the sixties..like the others it profoundly affected me and my views as I was growing up .then I got “the biggest secret” of david icke and I was well on my way to being scoffed at and smiled at by my family and friends ..I feel these two and have to remember also aldous Huxley brave new world have made me a “more aware” person and I am truly grateful I am and not one of the “sheeple” that are so abundant everywhere .first time on this webpage .was in London recently but missed seeing the play .wish I could have

Zeist
Zeist

Yes I also believe as dan remarks that Orwell was also an insider who reveals “truth”as fiction coz the “powers that be “allowed him to do so .just so to make us sheeple used to life as they want it to become . Can never forget feeling when seeing towers coming down and pple rushing I streets that hey..is this a movie or book or real life ?

the_real_dave-id

I’ve recently been involved in a “comedy” video highlighting the NSA situation that folks landing here may enjoy called “Every Post You Make (We’re The NSA)” you can see it on youtube here:

This is not an ad…. as we’re not selling anything! We just ask that if you like it, please subscribe!

allan armstrong

Just like to recommend http://www.scholarisland.org as lots more of this. Enjoy your site very much…keep it up.
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JJB
JJB

Between the two, will Orwell or Huxley will be proven correct? I say Huxley, as the soft tyranny of consumerism and ignorance ultimately works far better than the overt tyranny of “1984”.

Rae

In 1984 I spent 6 moths in North Korea and upon return back to Prague (Czechoslovakia was back then a communist country), I treated my post traumatic stress disorder with George Orwell’s book, it was like re-living those 6 months over again.

danni Golan

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