All animals are equal.
Expresses the core revolutionary principle that is later betrayed.
George Orwell's "Animal Farm" encapsulates the perversion of political ideals through its simple yet profound statement, "All animals are equal." This phrase initially serves as a unifying and equalizing mantra among the animals, reflecting the foundational principles of the new regime they establish after rebelling against their human owner. However, as the novel progresses, the statement becomes bitterly ironic when the ruling pigs amend it to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," reflecting the corruption of absolute power and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. This manipulation of language as a tool of political control and the resulting societal decay provide powerful commentary on the nature of totalitarianism.
Example Sentences
George Orwell
Animal Farm
This central maxim is used by the animals to promote equality, first published by Secker and Warburg in England on 17 August 1945.