Quotations are quotes, expressions, phrases or sentences taken out from a literary work that consist of universal themes and beliefs. Every person who reads can use the quotes and apply to their daily situation. Written by George Orwell, 1984 quotes are not only memorable but also suitable for the various current global circumstances. Some of the famous quotes have been explained below.
Quotes in 1984
Quote #1
Part-1, Chapter-1
This is the most critical quote seen by Winston Smith on posters every time he enters his apartment. This is a slogan propagated by the Party that Big Brother, the leader of the country Oceania to warn all the citizens that Big Brother is watching everyone. Therefore, everyone must stay within the given lines of the Party or else face the consequences. This slogan is given in all capital letters to show that this directive is very important. It relates to the existing surveillance through the internet and smartphones.
Quote #2
“WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”
Part-1, Chapter-1
These slogan type of quotes occur in the first chapter of the novel. These are mottos of the Ministry of Truth of the state of Oceania. The main political party “The Party” has introduced these slogans to manipulate and control the minds of people while putting ‘thoughts from the Party’ about what is important for them and what is not. In other words, these mottos show that people should accept these truths. In recent circumstances, it shows the subversive use of language to make people think what the governments want them to think.
Quote #3
“One of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Party depended.”
Part-1, Chapter-2
These lines are about Parsons, the fellow employee of Winston Smith, the main character of the storyline of 1984. This line is a comment on his enthusiasm to work for “The Party” and the government. It says that the Party depends on such unquestioning fellows who prove diehard followers. These people become the main source of the Thought Police to control the thoughts of the people. This shows their relevance to the religious fanatics of the modern times.
Quote #4
“The past was dead, the future was unimaginable.”
Part-1, Chapter-2
This short line occurs in the second chapter of the novel. It is a significant line that shows how the past is modified to make it equal to zero, or almost dead for the people. The main character, Winston Smith, is feeling quite odd when working in the party office. He feels that the past is more before him and that he cannot imagine what may happen to him in the future. Therefore, he is clueless about time due to his work in the Ministry of Truth.
Quote #5
“Who controls the past’, ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.”
Part-1, Chapter-3
These lines are from the third chapter. Winston Smith thinks about the existence of knowledge and realizes that truth is being annihilated. He thinks that if the line of the Party is accepted that who controls the present controls the past, it means it also controls the future. Therefore, the Party is working to obliterate all records. Then it will own the future as it can create its own record for future reference.
Quote #6
“Your worst enemy, he reflected, was your own nervous system. At any moment the tension inside you was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom.”
Part-1, Chapter-6
These lines are spoken in the sixth chapter. Winston Smith, the protagonist of this novel, is in a reflective mood. He is writing a diary which could prove a rebellious act against him. In these sentences, he thinks that his nervous system could prove bad for him. He knows that his inner tension could become visible, and he could be arrested. These lines show how the Party has overpowered the mental processes of its workers.
Quote #7
“Until they become conscious, they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.”
Part-1, Chapter-7
The hero of the novel, Winston Smith, writes these lines in his diary in the seventh chapter of the first section. He has been visiting the proles, the settlements of the proletariat people. He is thinking about the mob of the proletariat and states that if they become conscious of the situation in which they are forced to live, they will rebel. However, their thoughts have been curbed so much so that they could not become conscious of why they rebel and against whom they are rebelling. These lines, given in italics in original, are significant as they show how the politicians dominate the commoners using their power.
Quote #8
“At the sight of the words I love you the desire to stay alive had welled up in him, and the taking of minor risks suddenly seemed stupid.”
Part 2, Chapter 1
These lines occur in the first chapter of the second section. These are very important lines, as Winston Smith has already read “I love you” when Julia secretly passes the note. Now he is reflecting upon its meanings and feeling passionate intimate moments with Julia. In the past, he has experienced intimacy is a routine matter where no love is involved. Hence, meeting Julia has changed that thought and he has become passionate. He also understands that taking these small risks for love is mindless and yet worth it because Julia makes him feel alive
Quote #9
“The smell of her hair, the taste of her mouth, the feeling of her skin seemed to have got inside him, or into the air all around him. She had become a physical necessity.”
Part-2, Chapter-4
These lines occur in the fourth chapter of the second section. Here Winston is again thinking about his girlfriend, Julia, with whom he has met earlier. Although in the past sexual relationship was declared a routine matter for breeding more members of the Party, it is still a passionate act for him. He thinks about Julia and feels her presence. Then it suddenly dawns upon him that Julia has removed all his repression from the past and that he craves to be with her.
Quote#10
“For the first time, he perceived that if you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.”
Part-3, Chapter-4
These words are the thoughts of Winston Smith. He is very much overwhelmed by his rebellious thoughts, and seems, to be on the verge of spilling the beans or making it visible. He is very much aware of ‘Thought Police’ and the consequence of his thoughts. It has occurred to him for the first time that if you are working as a spy, you must hoodwink yourself, too. This line is significant in the novel and shows how a change of thoughts sometimes causes delusion.