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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Quote/Unquote


Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.

George Orwell, 1984

(Actually, this occurs to me several times a day. Sometimes as many as six or seven times before breakfast.)

6 comments:

  1. Haha.

    I like Orwell, but I love Alice.

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  2. Double-think, hmmm.

    All I can visualize is double-talk, which Sid Caesar did brilliantly. But you don't mean that.

    I have to try to think of an example of double-think.

    Does that mean one can think the earth is round and flat at the same time?

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  3. "Does that mean that one can think the earth is round and flat at the same time?"

    Exactly, Kathy. This is pretty much what Orwell meant. At least, as I understand it. :)

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  4. Gosh, how does someone do that? It's crazy-making.

    I know a lot of people who can equivocate, can be "in duality," or ambivalent about something, or can argue both sides of a point.

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  5. Kathy: I can usually argue both sides of a point. Drives everyone crazy. Ha!

    I think Orwell meant the 'acceptance' of doublethink as being the norm. In other words, not to question anything.

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