Force Quote by George Orwell
“For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable – what then?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Politics and the English Language, 1946
Questioning basic truths reveals how reality may be constructed by perception and control.
In simple terms: We must examine assumed facts.
Key Takeaway
Challenge assumptions about reality.
Themes
philosophy
reality
knowledge
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- education
- critical thinking
- media consumption
Key Concepts
epistemology
constructivism
mind control
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths do you accept without proof?
- How would you test a fundamental belief?
A Different Perspective
Assumptions can be deeply ingrained and hard to change.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
