1984
Chapter 7
Withalltheirclevernesstheyhadnevermasteredthesecretoffindingoutwhatanotherhumanbeingwasthinking. Perhapsthatwaslesstruewhenyouwereactuallyintheirhands. OnedidnotknowwhathappenedinsidetheMinistryofLove,butitwaspossibletoguess: tortures,drugs,delicateinstrumentsthatregisteredyournervousreactions,gradualwearing-downbysleeplessnessandsolitudeandpersistentquestioning. Facts,atanyrate,couldnotbekepthidden. Theycouldbetrackeddownbyenquiry,theycouldbesqueezedoutofyoubytorture. Butiftheobjectwasnottostayalivebuttostayhuman,whatdifferencediditultimatelymake? Theycouldnotalteryourfeelings:forthatmatteryoucouldnotalterthemyourself,evenifyouwantedto. Theycouldlaybareintheutmostdetaileverythingthatyouhaddoneorsaidorthought; buttheinnerheart,whoseworkingsweremysteriouseventoyourself,remainedimpregnable.
