Vulgarity is the rich man’s modest contribution to democracy.
—Unknown
A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Ethelberta breathed a sort of exclamation, not right out, but stealthily, like a parson’s damn.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
Profaneness is a brutal vice.—He who indulges in it is no gentleman.—I care not what his stamp may be in society, or what clothes he wears, or what culture he boasts.—Despite all his refinement, the light and habitual taking of God’s name in vain, betrays a coarse and brutal will.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Vulgarity is the garlic in the salad of taste.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
It comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
There are no people who are quite so vulgar as the over-refined.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Profit or pleasure there is none in swearing, nor anything in men’s natural tempers to incite them to it. For though some men pour out oaths so freely, as if they came naturally from them, yet surely no man is born of a swearing constitution.
—John Tillotson
Not when truth is dirty, but when it is shallow, does the enlightened man dislike to wade into its waters.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
It chills my blood to hear the blest Supreme rudely appealed to on each trifling theme.—Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise.—To swear is neither brave, polite, nor wise.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
The vulgar man is always the most distinguished, for the very desire to be distinguished is vulgar.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Whatever harsh criticisms may be passed on the construction of her sentences, she at least possesses that one touch of vulgarity that makes the whole world kin.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word; the sting of a reproach is the truth of it.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The higher a man stands, the more the word “vulgar” becomes unintelligible to him.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Oaths are the fossils of piety.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Grant me some wild expressions, Heavens, or I shall burst.
—George Farquhar (1677–1707) Irish Dramatist
The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Vulgarity is the conduct of other people, just as falsehoods are the truths of other people.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Nothing is a greater, or more fearful sacrilege than to prostitute the great name of God to the petulancy of an idle tongue.
—Jeremy Taylor
Here is the piece. If you can’t say fornicate can you say copulate or if not that can you say co-habit?. If not that would have to say consummate I suppose. Use your own good taste and judgment.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
It’s only with great vulgarity that you can achieve real refinement, only out of bawdy that you can get tenderness.
—Lawrence Durrell (1912–90) English Novelist, Poet, Travel Writer
Obscenity is a cleansing process, whereas pornography only adds to the murk.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Take not God’s name in vain; select a time when it will have effect.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) English Poet, Critic
Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
A whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him and might not spend them at my pleasure. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Blasphemous words betray the vain foolishness of the speaker.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
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