5 Comments
User's avatar
Jack Mahoney's avatar

The first quote reminds me of Vonnegut's, "We are who we pretend to be."

Expand full comment
Barry Friedman's avatar

Reminds me of those who look at Trump, look at America and say “We’re better than this” when, in reality, we are this.

Expand full comment
Jack Mahoney's avatar

How much better off would we be if such people could just stop lying to themselves? Often, those now wringing their handkerchiefs are the same ones who have been counseling patience with the proud imbeciles since Sarah Palin became their paladin.

Expand full comment
Barry Friedman's avatar

Comity can be so overrated.

Expand full comment
Bruce K.'s avatar

Orwell's mask quotation took me back to the 1964 S5 E25 Twilight Zone episode "The Masks" in which the mask selected reflects the essential character of its wearer. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734659/

Expand full comment