for example, in 1984 (if it was 1984), Oceania was at war with
Eurasia and in alliance with Eastasia. In no public or private utterance
was it ever admitted that the three powers had at any time been grouped
along different lines. Actually, as Winston well knew, it was only four
years since Oceania had been at war with Eastasia and in alliance with
Eurasia. But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened
to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control.
Officially the change of partners had never happened. Oceania was at war
with Eurasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia. The
enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil, and it followed that
any past or future agreement with him was impossible.
The frightening thing, he reflected for the ten thousandth time as he
forced his shoulders painfully backward (with hands on hips, they were
gyrating their bodies from the waist, an exercise that was supposed to be
good for the back muscles) -- the frightening thing was that it might