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Change Quote by George Orwell

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better. The debased language that I have been discussing is in some ways very convenient. Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption…” quote by George Orwell
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““But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better. The debased language that I have been discussing is in some ways very convenient. Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption, leaves much to be desired, would serve no good purpose, a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind, are a continuous temptation, a packet of aspirins always at one's elbow. Look back through this essay, and for certain you will find that I have again and again committed the very faults I am protesting against. By this morning's post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in Germany. The author tells me that he "felt impelled" to write it. I open it at random, and here is almost the first sentence I see: "[The Allies] have an opportunity not only of achieving a radical transformation of Germany's social and political structure in such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself, but at the same time of laying the foundations of a co-operative and unified Europe." You see, he "feels impelled" to write -- feels, presumably, that he has something new to say -- and yet his words, like cavalry horses answering the bugle, group themselves automatically into the familiar dreary pattern. This invasion of one's mind by ready-made phrases (lay the foundations, achieve a radical transformation) can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them, and every such phrase anaesthetizes a portion of one's brain.””

George Orwell

About This Quote

Source Essay: Politics and the English Language, 1946

Language shapes thought; clichéd phrases dull critical thinking and propagate propaganda.

In simple terms: Bad language corrupts thinking.

Key Takeaway

Guard against empty phrases.

Themes

language thought propaganda critical thinking communication

Mood

reflective critical analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • writing
  • public speaking
  • media analysis
  • education
  • political discourse

Key Concepts

cognitive bias semantic decay ideological manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you spot empty phrases?
  • What habits keep your language precise?
A Different Perspective

Overly simplistic language can also convey nuance when used intentionally.

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