Controlling the Past 1984

Classic insights from 1984

But you know what, I've become more detached now. I feel that controlling the past might not be useful, because this world doesn't have just one player.

The Later Qing's revision of history cannot prevent surrounding forces from changing.

Just as Manchuria cannot prevent the Later Qing from trying to erase its own existence, and is powerless to stop it, the boomerang will fall back on the Later Qing itself.

But actually, most people are also operating within a system, just going with the flow, unable to stop the general trend.

It's inherently a systemic problem, so systems that cannot evolve will find it very difficult.

But aren't the people of the Later Qing also taking it one step at a time, looking at contingencies?