"Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac"

This quote by George Orwell speaks with the power of rhetoric and propaganda in war. He is suggesting that war is typically provided to the public as a necessary act of self-defense against a dangerous enemy, rather than what it is: a war. This is a method of manipulating public opinion and making war seem more tasty. By presenting the opponent as a homicidal maniac, it makes it much easier for individuals to accept the concept of war as a required evil. This quote also speaks to the power of language and how it can be utilized to form popular opinion and validate war. It is a suggestion that we ought to be wary of the rhetoric used to justify war and be crucial of the information we are presented with.