“It is impossible to found a civilization on fear and hatred and cruelty. It would never endure.'
'Why not?'
'It would have no vitality. It would disintegrate. It would commit suicide.”

— George Orwell, book 1984

Source: 1984

Last update Sept. 30, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "It is impossible to found a civilization on fear and hatred and cruelty. It would never endure.' 'Why not?' 'It would h…" by George Orwell?

George Orwell473

English author and journalist 1903–1950

Related quotes

“Do you know what would happen if these walls had ears? They would commit suicide.”

Kuba Wojewódzki (1963) Polish journalist

Wiesz, co by było, gdyby te ściany miały uszy? Popełniłyby samobójstwo.
To Idol contestants

“There are strong reasons to suspect that had Kluge not committed suicide he would have been arrested anyway.”

Günther von Kluge (1882–1944) German general

Adolf Hitler to Alfred Jodl

“The reason why I wouldn’t commit suicide… well, the main reason now is ’cos I have a baby and I would never commit suicide because of her. But to me, committing suicide from a nihilistic point of view is pointless, because we’re all gonna die anyway, so why not just hang around and see what happens? D’you know what I mean? If something is inevitable, why board the plane early?”

Chris Martin (1977) musician, co-founder of Coldplay

http://www.hotpress.com/music/day-2000-coldplays-debut-album-parachutes-hits-no-1-22782005 source

“...any Japanese officer wishing to commit suicide would be given every facility.”

William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim (1891–1970) former Governor-General of Australia

Source: Defeat Into Victory (1961), p. 442

“If youth were not ignorant and timid, civilization would be impossible.”

Honoré de Balzac book Le Pere Goriot

Part I.
Le Père Goriot (1835)
Context: The next day Rastignac dressed himself very elegantly, and about three o'clock in the afternoon went to call on Mme. de Restaud. On the way thither he indulged in the wild intoxicating dreams which fill a young head so full of delicious excitement. Young men at his age take no account of obstacles nor of dangers; they see success in every direction; imagination has free play, and turns their lives into a romance; they are saddened or discouraged by the collapse of one of the visionary schemes that have no existence save in their heated fancy. If youth were not ignorant and timid, civilization would be impossible.