“Big Brother is Watching You.”

— George Orwell, book 1984

Source: 1984

Last update April 22, 2024. History

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George Orwell473

English author and journalist 1903–1950

Banksy pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, and painter

Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall (2001)

“Whether or not Big Brother is watching us, we certainly have to watch him, which may be even worse.”

Wilfrid Sheed (1930–2011) English-American novelist and essayist

"The Aesthetics of Politics," p. 156
Essays in Disguise (1990)

“Big Brother isn’t watching. He’s singing and dancing. He’s pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brother’s busy holding your attention every moment you’re awake. He’s making sure you’re always distracted. He’s making sure you’re fully absorbed.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Lullaby

Source: Lullaby (2002), Chapter 3
Context: Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn't watching. He's singing and dancing. He's pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brother’s busy holding your attention every moment you're awake. He's making sure you're always distracted. He's making sure you're fully absorbed. He's making sure your imagination withers. Until it's as useful as your appendix. He's making sure your attention is always filled. And this being fed, it's worse than being watched. With the world always filling you, no one has to worry about what's in your mind. With everyone's imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a threat to the world.