“I call a fig a fig, a spade a spade.”

“These Macedonians," said he, "are a rude and clownish people, that call a spade a spade.”

“I am not a man of etiquette, I don't know manners. I simply call a spade a fucking spade, because that's what it is.”

“Sometimes a person has to point fingers, disclose double standards, call a spade a spade.”

“I hate vulgar realism in literature. The man who would call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one.”

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out.”

“Cecily. This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.
Gwendolen. [Satirically. ] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.”

“Me? I'm loyal and honest, and I'm a good person. I call a spade a spade. Money doesn't make me; I make money. Without money, I'd be the same person.”

“What capital I give for the spade merely replaces what the manufacturer had already invested in the expectation that the spade would be needed.”

“I'll give you leave to call me anything, if you don't call me "spade."”