How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But I will come to the dream later. I have something else to say first. I do not think, comrades, that I shall be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. I have had a long life, I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall, and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. It is about this that I wish to speak to you." (1.6)
Hm. We're not sure, but we think there's a difference between acquired wisdom and random dream, right? "Wisdom" might tell Old Major that human—ahem, animal—nature is selfish and lazy; a "dream" might convince him that a communist utopia will work anyway.
Quote #2
"Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice will be done. Fix your eyes on that, comrades, throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. (1.11)
Unfortunately, as soon as they overthrow the tyranny of human beings, a new tyranny arises: the tyranny of pigs. This is… pretty depressing, actually. It's kind of like realizing that growing up doesn't actually mean you get to eat as many jelly doughnuts as you want; it means that you have to go to work every day to earn the money to buy those jelly doughnuts. (And then get fat.)
Quote #3
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the golden future time.
Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.
Rings shall vanish from our noses,
And the harness from our back,
Bit and spur shall rust forever,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.
Riches more than mind can picture,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon that day.
Bright will shine the fields of En
gland, Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.
For that day we all must labour,
Though we die before it break;
Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,
All must toil for freedom's sake.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken well and spread my tidings
Of the golden future time. (1.19)
Here's the song based on Old Major's dream. It sounds pretty great, doesn't it? No one forcing you to go to work; no silly rings in your nose. (This is even better when a bunch of adorably awkward boys are singing it.)