“There are only four ways in which a ruling group can fall from power. Either it is conquered from without, or it governs so inefficiently that the masses are stirred to revolt, or it allows a strong and discontented Middle group to come into being, or it loses its own self-confidence and willingness to govern. These causes do not operate singly, and as a rule all four of them are present in some degree. A ruling class which could guard against all of them would remain in power permanently. Ultimately the determining factor is the mental attitude of the ruling class itself.”

• Author: George Orwell
• Publishing House: Lexicon Books
• Edition number: 3
• Year of Publication: 2015
• No. of pages: 328
• Cover type: paperback
• ISBN: 9789380703022