“For if in careless summer daysIn groves of Ashtaroth we whored,Repentant now, when winds blow cold,We kneel before our rightful lord;The lord of all, the money-god,Who rules us blood and hand and brain,Who gives the roof that stops the wind,And, giving, takes away again;Who spies with jealous, watchful care,Our thoughts, our dreams, our secret ways,Who picks our words and cuts our clothes,And maps the pattern of our days;Who chills our anger, curbs our hope,And buys our lives and pays with toys,Who claims as tribute broken faith,Accepted insults, muted joys;Who binds with chains the poet’s wit,The navvy’s strength, the soldier’s pride,And lays the sleek, estranging shieldBetween the lover and his bride.”

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Originally said in English.

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About George Orwell

English writer and journalist of the 20th century, Orwell is best known for his dystopian novels *Nineteen Eighty-Four* and *Animal Farm*, which critique totalitarianism and power. His essays on politics, language, and society remain influential for their clarity and moral urgency.

More from George Orwell (321 quotes) →
"For if in careless summer daysIn groves of Ashtaroth we whored,Repent…" — George Orwell | Daily Quotes