Monday, July 03, 2006

Someone get George Orwell on the phone - it's not even 2050 yet



"If we insist that particular words have only one meaning and the way we understand those words is the only possible interpretation, we have elevated that text to an idol."

Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop-Elect, 2006

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?… Has it ever occurred to your, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?…The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact, there will be no thought, as we understand it now. "

George Orwell, 1984

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'

Unknown said...

Excellent quote, Pilgrim!!