CAUSE & EFFECT

'...an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.'

George Orwell, 'Politics and the English Language'. Available at: www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit

RESPONSIBILITY

'I am rather sick of the modern assumption that, for all events, 'WE', the people, are never responsible: it is always our rulers, or ancestors, or parents, or education, or anybody but precious 'US', WE are apparently perfect and blameless. Don't you believe it!'

CS Lewis in Walter Hooper (Ed.), The Collected Letters of CS Lewis Vol III, p.333.