1984

           Thatthepartywastheeternalguardianoftheweak,adedicatedsectdoingevilthatgoodmightcome,sacrificingitsownhappinesstothatofothers. Theterriblething,thoughtWinston,theterriblethingwasthatwhenO’Briensaidthishewouldbelieveit. Youcouldseeitinhisface.O’Brienkneweverything. AthousandtimesbetterthanWinstonheknewwhattheworldwasreallylike,inwhatdegradationthemassofhumanbeingslivedandbywhatliesandbarbaritiesthePartykeptthemthere. Hehadunderstooditall,weigheditall,anditmadenodifference:allwasjustifiedbytheultimatepurpose. Whatcanyoudo,thoughtWinston,againstthelunaticwhoismoreintelligentthanyourself,whogivesyourargumentsafairhearingandthensimplypersistsinhislunacy? 

           ‘Youarerulingoverusforourowngood,’hesaidfeebly. ‘Youbelievethathumanbeingsarenotfittogovernthemselves,andtherefore——’ 

           Hestartedandalmostcriedout. Apangofpainhadshotthroughhisbody. O’Brienhadpushedtheleverofthedialuptothirty-five. 

           ‘Thatwasstupid,Winston,stupid!’hesaid. ‘Youshouldknowbetterthantosayathinglikethat.’ 

           Hepulledtheleverbackandcontinued: 

           ‘NowIwilltellyoutheanswertomyquestion. Itisthis.ThePartyseekspowerentirelyforitsownsake. Wearenotinterestedinthegoodofothers; weareinterestedsolelyinpower. Notwealthorluxuryorlonglifeorhappiness:onlypower,purepower. Whatpurepowermeansyouwillunderstandpresently. Wearedifferentfromalltheoligarchiesofthepast,inthatweknowwhatwearedoing.