You are prepared to cheat, to forge, to blackmail, to corrupt the minds of children, to distribute habit-forming drugs, to encourage prostitution, to disseminate venereal diseases – to do anything which is likely to cause demoralization and weaken the power of the Party? If, for example, it would somehow serve our interests to throw sulphuric acid in a child’s face – are you prepared to do that?
– George Orwell
1984. Part 2, Chapter 8. O’Brien is interviewing Winston and Julia after they come to his apartment and announce themselves enemies of the Party.