If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.
George Orwell's "1984" presents a chilling view of a totalitarian regime where privacy and individual thoughts are heavily monitored. The idea that one must also hide secrets from oneself suggests the depth of manipulation and control exerted by the Party. In this oppressive environment, even one's inner thoughts are subject to scrutiny, stressing the extreme lengths required to protect one's identity and beliefs from an omnipresent authority.
This quote emphasizes the psychological impact of surveillance and the loss of personal autonomy. It illustrates how the need for secrecy can lead to a fragmented sense of self, where individuals are forced to deny their own thoughts to avoid detection. Ultimately, Orwell shows that the struggle for personal freedom includes not only external battles against oppression but also an internal fight to maintain one’s truth amid pervasive control.
