Skip to content

Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory…

“Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with reality; but by the exercise of doublethink he…” quote by George Orwell
Download Open image
““Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with reality; but by the exercise of doublethink he also satisfies himself that reality is not violated. The process has to be conscious, or it would not be carried out with sufficient precision, but it also has to be unconscious, or it would bring with it a feeling of falsity and hence of guilt. Doublethink lies at the very heart of Ingsoc, since the essential act of the Party is to use conscious deception while retaining the firmness of purpose that goes with complete honesty. To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth. Ultimately it is by means of doublethink that the Party has been able—and may, for all we know, continue to be able for thousands of years—to arrest the course of history.””

George Orwell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes the mental discipline of accepting contradictory beliefs, enabling totalitarian control over reality.

In simple terms: Holding opposite ideas at once to control truth.

Key Takeaway

Question reality and resist cognitive manipulation.

Themes

politics psychology philosophy control

Mood

thought‑provoking serious cautionary

Type

philosophical political critical

When to use this quote

  • political activism
  • media literacy
  • education
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

doublethink cognitive dissonance truth manipulation authoritarianism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we guard against self‑deception?
  • Can societies ever fully escape doublethink?
A Different Perspective

It may ignore individual agency and resilience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by George Orwell

Explore all 1,657 George Orwell quotes

More Doublethink quotes

Browse all 8 Doublethink quotes