Winston Churchill once said, “We are masters of the unsaid words but slaves of those we let slip out.” This statement means that words that we keep to ourselves, or our thoughts, are under our control, but the moment we announce those words, we no longer can control how those words will impact others. This statement is valid, as it can be seen in everyday life. Once something is said, it cannot be taken back, once words are released, others are then in control of those words, like when angry, hungry caged dogs are set free.
For example, in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston Smith, the protagonist, lives in a futuristic society where the government monitors everyone all the time. In Winston’s mind, he constantly tells himself that he hates the Party (the government), but if Winston were to display signs of irregularity in even the slightest way, or if he were to exclaim these words out loud, he would instantly be captured, tortured, and killed. Also, if he were tell someone else about his feelings while somehow managing to escape the eyes and ears of the Party, he or she would most likely tell the police out of pure fear. When Winston finally believes that a man named O’Brien is on his side, he explains how he feels about the Party, and O’Brien turns out to be part of the police and captures Winston to be tortured.
Winston Churchill was correct in saying, “We are masters of the unsaid words but slaves of those we let slip out.” Even words that we did not mean to say or do not even believe can greatly affect ourselves and others in indirect ways we did not consider. This is true in everyday life, and in the novel 1984 by George Orwell.