# Quote — George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying

> Gordon put his hand against the swing door. He even pushed it open a few inches. The warm fog of smoke and beer slipped through the crack. A familiar, reviving smell; nevertheless as he smelled it his nerve failed him. No! Impossible to go in. He turned away. He couldn't go shoving into that saloon bar with only fourpence halfpenny in his pocket. Never let other people buy your drinks for you! The first commandment of the moneyless. He made off down the dark pavement.

- Author: [George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md)
- Book: [Keep the Aspidistra Flying](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/keep-the-aspidistra-flying.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Orwell#Keep_the_Aspidistra_Flying_(1936)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/keep-the-aspidistra-flying/gordon-put-his

## More from this book

> He had reached the age when the future ceases to be a rosy blur and becomes actual and menacing.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/keep-the-aspidistra-flying/he-had-reached.md)

> That is the devilish thing about poverty, the ever-recurrent thing - loneliness. Day after day with never an intelligent person to talk to; night after night back to your godless room, always alone. Perhaps it sounds rather fun if you are rich and sought-after; but how different it is when you do it from necessity!

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/keep-the-aspidistra-flying/that-is-the.md)

> In a country like England you can no more be cultured without money than you can join the Cavalry Club.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/keep-the-aspidistra-flying/in-a-country.md)