George Orwell on ideas

Pacifism is objectively pro-fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other. Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one. In practice, ‘he that is not with me is against me.’

Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act.

Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words: it is war minus the shooting.

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt1884–1962

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Aristotle384–322 BC

• Education

One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas.

Victor Hugo1802–1885