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About this quote

What does it mean?
Tynan doubts many rational people find the word 'fuck' truly diabolical or forbidden.
In plain terms
He thinks few rational people really hate that word.
What can you take from it?
Obsession with profanity is often irrational.

Where it applies

  • debates on language
  • cultural norms
  • censorship

Putting it to work

  • discussing language
  • challenging norms
  • writing

Questions to consider

  • Why do words offend?
  • Is this really forbidden?

Another view

Some people do have genuine cultural or religious objections.

More from Kenneth Tynan

  1. I believe in neither a director's nor a writer's theatre, but a theatre of intelligent audiences. I count myself as a member of an intelligent audience, and I …

    Permalink to quote #24
  2. Any country that has sexual censorship will eventually have political censorship.

    Permalink to quote #26
  3. A good many inconveniences attend playgoing in any large city, but the greatest of them is usually the play itself.

    Permalink to quote #23

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