“When one thinks of all the people who support or have supported Fascism, one stands amazed at their diversity. What a crew! Think of a programme which at any rate for a while could bring Hitler, Petain, Montagu Norman, Pavelitch, William Randolph Hearst, Streicher, Buchman, Ezra Pound, Juan March, Cocteau, Thyssen, Father Coughlin, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Arnold Lunn, Antonescu, Spengler, Beverley Nichols, Lady Houston, and Marinetti all into the same boat! But the clue is really very simple. They are all people with something to lose, or people who long for a hierarchical society and dread the prospect of a world of free and equal human beings. Behind all the ballyhoo that is talked about ‘godless’ Russia and the ‘materialism’ of the working class lies the simple intention of those with money or privileges to cling to them. Ditto, though it contains a partial truth, with all the talk about the worthlessness of social reconstruction not accompanied by a ‘change of heart’. The pious ones, from the Pope to the yogis of California, are great on the’ change of heart’, much more reassuring from their point of view than a change in the economic system.”

Share & Save

Meaning

Not documented yet.

When It Was Said

Not documented yet.

Who It Was Said To

Not documented yet.

Historical Context

Not documented yet.

Source

Not documented yet.

Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

Did They Really Say It?

Not documented yet.

Did You Know?

Not documented yet.

About George Orwell

English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic

George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic. He is known for writing with clear prose and for work shaped by social criticism, opposition to totalitarianism, and support for democratic socialism. His writing is marked by direct language and a strong political conscience. Across his novels, essays, and journalism, he returns to questions of power, public life, and freedom, and he is closely associated with criticism of totalitarian rule and with democratic socialist ideas.

More from George Orwell (321 quotes) →

READ THE SOURCE

Books by George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four

The source of many political quotes.

VIEW ON AMAZON

Animal Farm

A short political fable.

VIEW ON AMAZON