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About this quote

What does it mean?
Orwell states that crimes are excused if committed by one's own group.
In plain terms
Our side is forgiven for crimes others are not.
What can you take from it?
Loyalty often excuses moral failures within one's group.

Where it applies

  • war
  • political conflict
  • social justice

Putting it to work

  • challenging bias
  • promoting universal ethics
  • critiquing nationalism

Questions to consider

  • When does loyalty become blind?
  • Should all crimes be judged equally?

Another view

Some acts are universally condemned regardless of side.

More from George Orwell

  1. It is, I think, true to say that the intelligentsia have been more wrong about the progress of the war than the common people, and that they were more swayed b…

    Permalink to quote #109
  2. In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.'

    Permalink to quote #111
  3. If one harbours anywhere in one's mind a nationalistic loyalty or hatred, certain facts, although in a sense known to be true, are inadmissible. Here are just …

    Permalink to quote #108

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