“profanity and obscenity entitle people who don't want unpleasant information to close their ears and eyes to you.”

—  Kurt Vonnegut , book Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus (1990)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Sept. 27, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "profanity and obscenity entitle people who don't want unpleasant information to close their ears and eyes to you." by Kurt Vonnegut?
Kurt Vonnegut photo
Kurt Vonnegut 318
American writer 1922–2007

Related quotes

Johnny Depp photo

“You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel.”

Johnny Depp (1963) American actor, film producer, and musician

Also attributed to Chester Bennington (singer of Linkin Park)

Chester Bennington photo

“You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel.”

Chester Bennington (1976–2017) American singer-songwriter

Also attributed to Johnny Depp.

Susan Sarandon photo

“It's great to see people who find joy in service and don't close their eyes and aren't afraid.”

Susan Sarandon (1946) American actress

"'The Power of One' : Interview with Susan Sarandon" at Belief.net http://www.beliefnet.com/story/170/story_17020.html
Quote

Roman Polanski photo

“You have to show violence the way it is. If you don't show it realistically, then that's immoral and harmful. If you don't upset people, then that's obscenity.”

Roman Polanski (1933) Polish-French film director, producer, writer, actor, and rapist

As quoted in Shakespearean Criticism : Excerpts from the Criticism of William Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry, from the First Published Appraisals to Current Evaluations (1985) by Laurie Lanzen Harris, p. 11

P.G. Wodehouse photo

“"I don't want to seem always to be criticizing your methods of voice production, Jeeves," I said, "but I must inform you that that 'Well, sir' of yours is in many respects fully as unpleasant as your 'Indeed, sir?'”

P.G. Wodehouse book Right Ho, Jeeves

Like the latter, it seems to be tinged with a definite scepticism. It suggests a lack of faith in my vision. The impression I retain after hearing you shoot it at me a couple of times is that you consider me to be talking through the back of my neck, and that only a feudal sense of what is fitting restrains you from substituting for it the words 'Says you!'"
Source: Right Ho, Jeeves (1934)

Nikos Kazantzakis photo

“Let people be, boss; don't open their eyes. And supposing you did, what'd they see? Their misery! Leave their eyes closed, boss, and let them go on dreaming!”

Nikos Kazantzakis book Zorba the Greek

Source: Zorba the Greek

Haruki Murakami photo

“Closing your eyes isn't going to change anything. Nothing's going to disappear just because you can't see what's going on. In fact, things will even be worse the next time you open your eyes. That's the kind of world we live in. Keep your eyes wide open. Only a coward closes his eyes. Closing your eyes and plugging up your ears won't make time stand still.”

Haruki Murakami book Kafka on the Shore

Kafka on the Shore (2002)

Tyler Joseph photo

“You can close your eyes if you want. Some things are less scary.”

Tyler Joseph (1988) American singer-songwriter and record producer
Vincent Van Gogh photo

“What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low.”

Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890) Dutch post-Impressionist painter (1853-1890)

In his letter to Theo, from The Hague, 21 July 1882, http://www.vggallery.com/letters/245_V-T_218.pdf
1880s, 1882
Context: What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.
That is my ambition, based less on resentment than on love in spite of everything, based more on a feeling of serenity than on passion.
Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners. And my mind is driven towards these things with an irresistible momentum.

Scott Clifton photo

“It's always a source of anxiety, come Emmy time… People are so supportive and so kind, but they put ideas in your head that you don't want to hear. They go, 'I know you're going to win,' and then when you lose, those same people don't want to make eye contact with you. I don't know who's more embarrassed, me or them.”

Scott Clifton (1984) American television actor, musician, internet personality.

Responding to an interviewer's question, "What's going on in your head leading up to tonight?" at the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony. (19 June 2011) http://www.soapoperanetwork.com/interviews/item/4926-backstage-interview-with-daytime-emmy-award-winner-scott-clifton

Related topics