1984 Quotes
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Source: 1984
Author: George Orwell
"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."
And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became truth. 'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.' And yet the past, though of its nature alterable, never had been altered. Whatever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory. 'Reality control,' they called it: in Newspeak, 'doublethink.'
Context
Early on in 1984, Winston wakes up, prepares for a day of work, and thinks these very thoughts.
We know, deep thoughts for a tooth-brushing session, right? Well, as it turns out, Winston is reminiscing about his mother and a time when emotion was more prevalent, when tragedy or joy was more keenly felt. It seems that Winston is not a very good Party member because he hasn't conquered his own memory.
Let's rewind a bit.
See, in 1984, there's this little thing called doublethink. Doublethink allows for all other contradictions that the Party uses in order to maintain control. For example, the Party members can simultaneously believe that the proles are normal people who live happy lives and that they are nothing more than senseless animals who need to be enslaved.
It's all possible because they—the Party—control the past, present, and future. As the quote suggests, the Party, because they're in power, can rewrite history to suit their needs. And that means they can bend the world—and its past—to their will.
Where you've heard it
From history professors.
This quote bears a strong similarity to Winston Churchill's classic line, "History is written by the victors." Anyone who believes that our understanding of history is subject to bias is liable to spout this quote when the occasion calls for it.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
If you quote the idea, you're fine; if you quote the line as is, you might want to start sporting some tweed.