“Attempting to define reality is a core feature of authoritarianism. This is what the Soviets did when they erased political dissidents from historical photos. This is what happens in George Orwell’s classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, when a torturer holds up four fingers and delivers electric shocks until his prisoner sees five fingers as ordered. The goal is to make you question logic and reason and to sow mistrust towards exactly the people we need to rely on: our leaders, the press, experts who seek to guide public policy based on evidence, ourselves.”

Source: Until I Find You

Source: Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

Interview with Don Swaim (1986)
Context: I write short stories. They may appear big in size, but when you consider it, they're four or five novels in one. … In return for picking up one of my books, I'm trying to give them value for their money. … the goal of writing any book is to create the illusion that what you are reading is reality and you're part of it.

1963, American University speech

Source: World Wrestling Federation (1984-1993), Summerslam (1992)

Discussing his forthcoming book, as quoted in the Associated Press, March 17, 2009 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/17/bush-abstains-from-critic_n_176032.html.
2000s, 2009

Source: City of Lost Souls

Source: 1984