"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men"

George Orwell’s observation draws attention to a critical moment in society when core truths, once self-evident, are obscured by propaganda, misinformation, or collective complacency. When the climate of discourse becomes so muddled with distortions, half-truths, or outright lies, fundamental realities need to be spoken aloud and defended as if they were controversial. What used to be accepted as common sense requires articulation, reiteration, and justification. Intellectuals, thinkers, and anyone tasked with fostering public understanding must abandon pursuits of novelty or abstraction and focus instead on clarifying the basics.

The statement acknowledges a cultural or political decay, a period in which straightforward facts can no longer be taken for granted. This may occur in societies where manipulation of language, truth, and perception is widespread, conditions Orwell studied and critiqued extensively in his works, especially regarding totalitarianism. At such depths, the role of intelligent individuals is not to dazzle with innovation, but to act as anchors, reminding people of reality, undermining lies by calmly restating what should need no defense.

Restating the obvious becomes a duty because society’s collective memory, logic, or moral compass may be at risk. People may be exhausted by rhetoric, overwhelmed by complexity, or numbed by deliberate obfuscation. When even the most basic facts are challenged, indifference and silence open the door to further distortions. The responsibility, therefore, is not only intellectual but ethical; it becomes a stand against apathy and manipulation.

Orwell points to the courage required for this task. In a hostile atmosphere, restating the obvious can be met with scorn or hostility. Yet, without such efforts, the fabric of rational discourse and shared truth frays. By insisting on the obvious, intelligent men and women defend the prerequisites for honest debate, democratic life, and genuine progress.