1984

           ‘Notmuch,perhaps. Butitwasevidence. Itmighthaveplantedafewdoubtshereandthere,supposingthatI’ddaredtoshowittoanybody. Idon’timaginethatwecanalteranythinginourownlifetime. Butonecanimaginelittleknotsofresistancespringinguphereandthere—smallgroupsofpeoplebandingthemselvestogether,andgraduallygrowing,andevenleavingafewrecordsbehind,sothatthenextgenerationscancarryonwhereweleaveoff.’ 

           ‘I’mnotinterestedinthenextgeneration,dear. I’minterestedinUS.’ 

           ‘You’reonlyarebelfromthewaistdownwards,’hetoldher. 

           Shethoughtthisbrilliantlywittyandflungherarmsroundhimindelight. 

           Intheramificationsofpartydoctrineshehadnotthefaintestinterest. WheneverhebegantotalkoftheprinciplesofIngsoc,doublethink,themutabilityofthepast,andthedenialofobjectivereality,andtouseNewspeakwords,shebecameboredandconfusedandsaidthatsheneverpaidanyattentiontothatkindofthing. Oneknewthatitwasallrubbish,sowhyletoneselfbeworriedbyit? Sheknewwhentocheerandwhentoboo,andthatwasalloneneeded. Ifhepersistedintalkingofsuchsubjects,shehadadisconcertinghabitoffallingasleep. Shewasoneofthosepeoplewhocangotosleepatanyhourandinanyposition. Talkingtoher,herealizedhoweasyitwastopresentanappearanceoforthodoxywhilehavingnograspwhateverofwhatorthodoxymeant. Inaway,theworld-viewofthePartyimposeditselfmostsuccessfullyonpeopleincapableofunderstandingit.