Animal Farm Quotes

Context

Do you subscribe to Animalism? Yeah, we didn't think so.

But the animals of Animal Farm do, and they need a credo.

These words are written in place of the original Seven Commandments as the pigs slowly rewrite Animalism.

See, the seventh commandment used to be, "All animals are equal", but that was an ideal that didn't seem to have much to do with reality. So the animals amend it, and this new version consumes the farm and the old philosophy.

Some of the animals—like Benjamin—are aware of what's happening, but the totalitarian control of the pigs leaves no room for disagreement.

Where you've heard it

Here we have a classic example of political policy being warped into propaganda.

Animal Farm is, of course, an allegory for Russian communism, and Orwell is trying to show how some of the seemingly sensible doctrines of communism become tools used by those in power to control the masses.

Just before this scene, many animals are frightened when they witness the pigs marching on two feet. (We would be scared too—that sounds terrifying). And though they think fondly back to the good ol' days of revolution, they are now powerless to change the course of Animal (or should we say, Manor) Farm.

So when do people say it nowadays? When they're pointing out essential hypocrisies in the government or the Powers-That-Be. It's important to remember that most folks who say it don't mean it—they're horrified by 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.

The enduring popularity of Animal Farm makes this a pretty well known maxim. So it's not going to sound pretentious unless you're using it in a pretentious way, like mocking the senselessness of your parents' rules.

And yeah, we get it: there's no such thing as "more equal." Get over it, Grammar Police.