ORWELLIAN

The dictionary definition of "Orwellian": "an adjective to describe official deception, secret surveillance, and manipulation of the past by a totalitarian or authoritarian state."

This year, at Thanksgiving Dinner George Orwell's 1984 was a topic of conversation.  I was disappointed in myself that I could not bring forth numerous "Orwellian" words and phrases other than "Big Brother is watching you", and "doublethink".

After the dinner guests left, I lovingly perused several volumes of Orwell's works and reacquainted myself with the wit and wisdom of Eric Blair.

"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."

"If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide from yourself."

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stomping on a human face--forever."

"He who controls the past controls the future, He who controls the present controls the past."

"For, after all, how do we know that 2 and 2 make 4? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable--what then?"

"The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness and for the great bulk of mankind happiness is better."

Also, whenever I hear the word "dystopian", I immediately think of Orwell.