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We have more ways to describe dirty words than we actually have dirty words. We call them bad words, dirty, filthy, foul, vile, vulgar, coarse, in poor taste, unseemly, street-talk, gutter-talk, locker room language, barbaric talk, bawdy, naughty, saucy, raunchy, rude, crude, lewd, indecent, profane, obscene, blue, off-color, suggestive, cursing, cussing, swearing and all I could think of was shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits!

George Carlin#201

LanguageTabooProfanity

About this quote

What does it mean?
There are many polite terms for swear words, but fewer actual words.
In plain terms
We use many words to avoid using the few bad ones.
What can you take from it?
We sanitize language with euphemisms.

Where it applies

  • writing
  • speech
  • cultural studies

Putting it to work

  • notice word choices
  • question euphemisms

Questions to consider

  • What words do you avoid?
  • Why do we soften language?

Another view

This list is subjective and may vary by culture.

More from George Carlin

  1. Soft rock music isn't rock, and it ain't music. It's just soft.

    Permalink to quote #200
  2. Two heart attacks has changed my diet, but I still cook bacon for the smell.

    Permalink to quote #202
  3. Reminds me of something my third grade teacher said to us. She said, 'You show me a tropical fruit and I'll show you a cock-sucker from Guatemala.'

    Permalink to quote #199

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