[Hitler] has grasped the falsity of the hedonistic attitude to life. Nearly all western thought since the last war, certainly all “progressive” thought, has assumed tacitly that human beings desire nothing beyond ease, security, and avoidance of pain. In such a view of life there is no room, for instance, for patriotism and the military virtues. Hitler, because in his own joyless mind he feels it with exceptional strength, knows that human beings don’t only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth-control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice, not to mention drums, flag and loyalty-parades .. Whereas Socialism, and even capitalism in a grudging way, have said to people “I offer you a good time, ” Hitler has said to them “I offer you struggle, danger and death, ” and as a result a whole nation flings itself at his feet . George Orwell
Some Similar Quotes
  1. Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people. - Roy T. Bennett
  2. Friends are the family you choose (~ Nin/Ithilnin, Elven rogue). - Jess C. Scott
  3. Most of us must learn to love people and use things rather than loving things and using people. - Roy T. Bennett
  4. And when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful. - Ruskin Bond
  5. It often occurs that pride and selfishness are muddled with strength and independence. They are neither equal nor similar; in fact, they are polar opposites. A coward may be so cowardly that he masks his weakness with some false personification of power. He is afraid... - Criss Jami
More Quotes By George Orwell
  1. Confession is not betrayal. What you say or do doesn't matter only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal.
  2. At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.
  3. This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
  4. Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.
  5. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
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