"Why hide it? Why protest against it? Many things
that are
real are not right.
Disease germs are real, but must we therefore
spread them? A pestilent infection
may be real, but ought we to
expose ourselves to it?
Those who argue that so-called "real life" is
license must remember that where
there's an is, there's an ought.
Frequently, what is and what
ought to be are far apart. When is and
ought come together, an ideal
is formed. The reality of profanity
does not argue for the toleration
of it."
—Elder Boyd K. Packer,
Conference Report, October 1967, p.127
------------------------------------------------------------------------
George Washington:
"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."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brigham Young:
"Let not thy tongue give utterance to the evil that is in thine heart,
but command thy tongue to be
silent until good shall prevail over the
evil."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Shakespeare:
"Mend your speech a little, lest it may mar your fortune."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dorothy Nevill:
"The art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right
place, but to leave unsaid the
wrong thing at the tempting moment."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plutarch:
"If any man think it a small matter to bridle his tongue, he is much
mistaken."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Profanity never did any man the least good. No man is the richer,
or happier, or wiser, for it.
It commends no one to any society. It is
disgusting to the refined; abominable
to the good; insulting to those
with whom we associate; degrading
to the mind; unprofitable, needless,
and injurious to society."
--Unknown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippine Proverb:
"Into the closed mouth the fly does not get."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Language is the dress of thought; every time you talk your mind is
on parade."
--Unknown--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Please, dear God, make my words today sweet and tender--for
tomorrow I may have to eat them."
--Unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What should not be heard by little ears should not be said by big
mouths."
--Unknown--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brigham Young:
"If you can hear the name of Deity lightly spoken of and blasphemed,
and not be shocked at it, you
may know that you are not in that path
that leads to life and salvation."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brigham Young:
"While we have the privilege of speaking to each other, let us speak
words of comfort and consolation.
When you are influenced by the Spirit
of holiness and purity, let your
light shine; but if you are tried and tempted
and buffeted by Satan, keep your
thoughts to yourselves--keep your
mouths closed; for speaking produces
fruit, either of a good or evil
character."
(DBY, 166)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brigham Young:
"If you first gain power to check your words, you will then begin to
have power to check your judgment,
and at length actually gain power
to check your thoughts and reflections."
(DBY, 267-68)
------------------------
"We often hear people excuse themselves for their uncouth manners
and offensive language, by remarking
"I am no hypocrite," thus taking
to themselves credit for that
which is really no credit to them. When
evil arises within me, let me
throw a cloak over it, subdue it, instead of
acting it our upon the false
presumption that I am honest and no
hypocrite. Let not thy
tongue give utterance to the evil that is in thine
heart, but command thy tongue
to be silent until good shall prevail over
the evil, until thy wrath has
passed away and the good Spirit shall move
thy tongue to blessings and words
of kindness." (DBY, 266)
---------------------------
"Some are in the habit of talking about their neighbors, of vending
stories they know nothing about,
only that Aunt Sally said that Cousin
Fanny told Aunt Betsy that old
Aunt Ruth said something or other, or
somebody had had a dream; and
by the time the story or dream reaches
you, it has assumed the semblance
of a fact, and you are very foolishly
spending your time in talking
about things that amount to nothing, or
that you have no concern with.
A report is started that such a one has
done wrong, and, by the time
it has gone its round, has become anointed
with the salve of the backbiter
and tale-bearer--become endowed with
their spirit. One and another
falls in with it and says, "That is true--your
cause is just, you are exactly
right, and the other is surely wrong," when
they know nothing about the matter,
thereby engendering entirely
groundless ill feelings against
each other. Before we condemn, we
should wait until the heavens
clearly indicate a fault in a father, brother,
sister, wife, husband, or neighbor.
And if heaven declares a fault, wait
until the Holy Ghost manifests
to you that such is a fault. Let the Father
reveal to you that the person
you are thinking or talking about is
actually wrong. Traduce
(expose to shame or blame by falsehood) no
person. When you know what
right is, and are capable of correcting a
person that is wrong, then it
is time enough for you to judge." (DBY, 268)
--------------------
"There is an old maxim, and in many cases an excellent one. It is,
'Think twice before you speak,
and three times before you act.' If we
train ourselves to think what
we are about to do, before we do it, and
have understanding to know, and
power to perform the good, we can
thereby avoid...evil."
(DBY, 268)
---------------------
"It is also a precious gift, that some people seem to be possessed
of, to have knowledge enough
not to talk until they can say something
to advantage and benefit to themselves,
or others, or both." (DBY, 268)
***********************************************************
President Spencer W. Kimball: (Oct. 1978, Gen. Conf. Priesthood Session)
Now, my brethren young and old, there
is another matter I wish to mention. I wish
to read for you a verse for your serious thought. The verse is called
"Keeping Clean" and
is in somewhat the same area as the other Brethren have talked about.
Keeping Clean
When you tell a filthy story,
Do you ever stop to think
What impression you have made upon the crowd?
Do you think the boys enjoy it?
Do you think because they laugh
That you have sufficient reason to be proud?
Do you know that you exhibit
All that is within your soul,
When the filthy story passes from your tongue?
It reveals your own defilement,
It proclaims your ignorance,
It disgusts all decent boys who love real fun.
Do you think that you exhibit any real common sense,
When you show the crowd how rotten is your mind?
Do you know that you dishonor
Both your parents and your friends?
Think it over, boys, and that is what you'll find.
Be a little choice in language;
Be a little more refined,
If respect of those around you you would win,
You will have a great advantage over those who are inclined
To go through life in filth, and slime and sin.
*****************************************************************
"Speech is a mirror of the soul;
As a man speaks, so he is."
--Publilius Syrus--
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End of first 20 Quotes. More Quotes
at: Profanity Quotes 2
Profanity Quotes 3