George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a classic – even 80 years on, it feels written for today. Each read reveals something new.

When I first read it, I saw it as a warning about how power can be misused. Reading it again now, it reminds me to hold on to values and not let shortcuts or ambition make you lose integrity.

Here are the lessons I carry with me:
1. Power seeks more power – even good leaders can lose sight of their vision.
2. Control the words, control the world – language can guide or manipulate people.
3. Equality is fragile – small exceptions can slowly erode fairness.
4. Change needs design, not just revolt – real change needs clear purpose and structure.
5. Blind loyalty is dangerous – questioning and awareness keep us safe.
6. Leaders set the culture – their actions ripple through the whole community.
7. Integrity matters most – staying true to principles is harder than it seems, but it’s what sustains trust.

I recently suggested this book to my 10-year-old daughter. And while she begins her first read, I find myself rediscovering its wisdom all over again.

Animal Farm may be 80 years old, but its lessons on power, fairness, and integrity will never expire.