Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Describes a state permanently at war to maintain power and control.
In plain terms
A government uses permanent war to stay strong.
What can you take from it?
Perpetual war sustains authoritarian control.

Where it applies

  • political theory
  • international relations
  • authoritarianism

Putting it to work

  • analyze state power
  • critique war
  • study control

Questions to consider

  • Why wars persist?
  • How power maintains itself?

Another view

It simplifies complex international dynamics.

More from George Orwell

  1. Thus, for example, tanks, battleships and bombing planes are inherently tyrannical weapons, while rifles, muskets, long-bows, and hand-grenades are inherently …

    Permalink to quote #18
  2. Scientific education for the masses will do little good, and probably a lot of harm, if it simply boils down to more physics, more chemistry, more biology, etc…

    Permalink to quote #20
  3. Autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life when vie…

    Permalink to quote #17

Related quotes

  1. To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated at, regulated, docketed, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, weig…

    P. J. ProudhonP. J. Proudhon quote #2
  2. What argument have they to persuade the young men to fight except merely in another squalid attempt to defend themselves against a redistribution of the intern…

    Aneurin BevanAneurin Bevan quote #3
  3. Now I can go back to being ruthless again.

    Robert F. KennedyRobert F. Kennedy quote #3