1984

           ‘Isittrue,whatitsays?’ 

           ‘Asdescription,yes. Theprogrammeitsetsforthisnonsense. Thesecretaccumulationofknowledge—agradualspreadofenlightenment—ultimatelyaproletarianrebellion—theoverthrowoftheParty. Youforesawyourselfthatthatwaswhatitwouldsay. Itisallnonsense. Theproletarianswillneverrevolt,notinathousandyearsoramillion. Theycannot. Idonothavetotellyouthereason:youknowitalready. Ifyouhaveevercherishedanydreamsofviolentinsurrection,youmustabandonthem. ThereisnowayinwhichthePartycanbeoverthrown. TheruleofthePartyisforever. Makethatthestarting-pointofyourthoughts.’ 

           Hecameclosertothebed. ‘Forever!’herepeated. ‘Andnowletusgetbacktothequestionof"how"and"why". YouunderstandwellenoughHOWthePartymaintainsitselfinpower. NowtellmeWHYweclingtopower. Whatisourmotive? Whyshouldwewantpower? Goon,speak,’headdedasWinstonremainedsilent. 

           NeverthelessWinstondidnotspeakforanothermomentortwo. Afeelingofwearinesshadoverwhelmedhim. Thefaint,madgleamofenthusiasmhadcomebackintoO’Brien’sface. HeknewinadvancewhatO’Brienwouldsay. ThatthePartydidnotseekpowerforitsownends,butonlyforthegoodofthemajority. Thatitsoughtpowerbecausemeninthemasswerefrail,cowardlycreatureswhocouldnotendurelibertyorfacethetruth,andmustberuledoverandsystematicallydeceivedbyotherswhowerestrongerthanthemselves. Thatthechoiceformankindlaybetweenfreedomandhappiness,andthat,forthegreatbulkofmankind,happinesswasbetter.