While the exact phrasing might not appear in his works, the sentiment strongly echoes Orwell's concerns about the manipulation of language, particularly in totalitarian regimes. He believed that controlling the language people use directly controls their thoughts and understanding of the world.
Here are some key themes from Orwell's works that relate to this quote:
* Newspeak: In *Nineteen Eighty-Four*, the ruling party invents Newspeak, a language designed to limit thought and restrict the expression of ideas that challenge their authority.
* Doublethink: This concept, also from *Nineteen Eighty-Four*, describes the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously. Orwell believed that this was possible through the manipulation of language.
* Political Correctness: While this term was not used in Orwell's time, his ideas about controlling language resonate with concerns about political correctness and its potential to limit free speech.
Orwell's warnings about the power of words remain relevant today, urging us to be vigilant against the manipulation of language and to value the freedom of expression.