Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) English Poet, Critic
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Take not God’s name in vain; select a time when it will have effect.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
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
Be true to your own highest convictions. Intimations from our own souls of something more perfect than others teach, if faithfully followed, give us a consciousness of spiritual force and progress never experienced by the vulgar of high life, or low life, who march as they are drilled to the step of their times.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Oaths are the fossils of piety.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Very notable was his distinction between coarseness and vulgarity, coarseness, revealing something; vulgarity, concealing something.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
There are no people who are quite so vulgar as the over-refined.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Obscenity is a cleansing process, whereas pornography only adds to the murk.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Shocking writing is like murder: the questions the jury must decide are the questions of motive and intent.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
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
The higher a man stands, the more the word “vulgar” becomes unintelligible to him.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Vulgarity is the garlic in the salad of taste.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
‘Twas but my tongue, ’twas not my soul that swore.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Think with the wise, but talk with the vulgar.
—Greek Proverb
Vulgarity is the conduct of other people, just as falsehoods are the truths of other people.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The sign of a Philistine age is the cry of immorality against art.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
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
Since obscenity is the truth of our passion today, it is the only stuff of art—or almost the only stuff.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Critic
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
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
I’ve tried to reduce profanity but I reduced so much profanity when writing the book that I’m afraid not much could come out. Perhaps we will have to consider it simply as a profane book and hope that the next book will be less profane or perhaps more sacred.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
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
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
A thing is not vulgar merely because it is common.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Ethelberta breathed a sort of exclamation, not right out, but stealthily, like a parson’s damn.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
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
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
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