Quote by George Orwell
Political writing in our time consists almost entirely of prefabricated phrases bolted together like the pieces of a child's Meccano set. It is the unavoidable result of self-censorship. To write in plain, vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox.
Summary
This quote suggests that contemporary political writing lacks originality and sincerity, as it is constrained by the use of predetermined phrases. This phenomenon is attributed to self-censorship, where writers conform to the dominant political ideology to avoid controversy. To break free from this constraint, the author argues that one must think and express themselves boldly, which would make it impossible to adhere strictly to the established political doctrines. In essence, the quote highlights the detrimental impact of self-censorship on the authenticity and clarity of political discourse.