Enrolou os papéis relativos ao trabalho já terminado e meteu-os no tubo pneumático. Tinham passado oito minutos. Ajeitou os óculos no nariz, suspirou, e puxou para si outro maço de instruções de trabalho, com o papelinho em cima. Alisou-o com os dedos. Nele vinha escrito, numa letra grande e informe: Amo-te.
—George Orwell, 1984, Público 2002 (1949)
Pelos vistos sabia de cor toda aquela canção piegas. A voz subia, pairava na atmosfera suave da tarde de Verão, muito melodiosa, carregada de certa melancolia feliz.
—George Orwell, 1984, Público 2002 (1949)
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
—George Orwell, 1984, 1949
Já se sabia que eram tudo balelas, por isso de que servia estar alguém a ralar-se? Sabia quando aplaudir e quando apupar, e chegava!
—George Orwell, 1984, Público 2002 (1949)
Times went on. The sun shifted in the sky, the clocks struck thirteen, and in the Ministry of Truth, the workers were busy rectifying the news. It had been announced on the telescreen that the chocolate ration was to be reduced from thirty grammes to twenty at the beginning of next week. Then, without any warning, it was announced that the ration was to be increased to twenty grammes. Winston’s mind went back to the evening before, when he had heard the announcement of the increase. He had just taken a nibble of the chocolate and had been thinking how much better it tasted than the stuff they had had last year. But the announcement had been made only that morning, and already it had been superseded. The Party had announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grammes, and then, a few hours later, that it was to be increased to twenty grammes. The masses, of course, accepted it without question. They were too ignorant to see the contradiction, and too frightened to care.
—George Orwell, 1984, 1949