20 Brilliant 1984 Quotes that Will Blow Your Mind
Written by English author George Orwell, the novel 1984 is considered one of the most terrifying novels ever written; not because it revolves around scary fictional characters, but because it shows what horrifying actions individuals can take when given too much power.
As you’ve probably guessed, the book is set in the year 1984, where the “Party” takes full control over most of the world’s population. Individualism and independent thinking are banned, everyone is manipulated and under constant surveillance -- “Big Brother” is watching them.
The politics and psychology of 1984 run very deep. The members of the “Party” use brutal force and mind control to make sure individuals are kept in line. Anyone who tries to live by their own rules is labeled a traitor and terribly punished.
The dystopian novel 1984 focuses on the darker side of life, forcing the reader to think about the consequences of giving someone too much control over one’s life, making it impossible not to feel anger and helplessness while reading it.
However, the picture the book paints can also act as a powerful catalyst for taking action and finding ways to have a positive impact on the world.
Here are 20 brilliant 1984 quotes that will blow your mind:
But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.
We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.
Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.
Until they became conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.
If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.
Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.
Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else.
There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.
Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.
The best books... are those that tell you what you know already.
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.
In the face of pain there are no heroes.
The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness and for the great bulk of mankind, happiness is better.
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking into the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent.
If you can feel that staying human is worthwhile, even when it can't have any result whatever, you've beaten them.
Stupidity was as necessary as intelligence, and as difficult to attain.
And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed — if all records told the same tale — then the lie passed into history and became truth.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.