A totalitarian state is in effect a theocracy, and its ruling caste, in order to keep its position, has to be thought of as infallible. But since, in practice, no one is infallible, it is frequently necessary to rearrange past events in order to show that this or that mistake was not made, or that this or that imaginary triumph actually happened.

Summary

This quote points out that a totalitarian state operates like a theocracy, where the ruling elite must be perceived as perfect in order to maintain their power. However, since no one is truly infallible, the state often manipulates or distorts past events to cover up mistakes or fabricate achievements. This necessitates the rewriting of history to fit their narrative and maintain control over the population. It highlights the authoritarian nature of such states, where maintaining an illusion of infallibility becomes vital for the ruling class.

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