--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tree man eulogized them by screaming…" description: "\"“The tree man eulogized them by screaming, 'And now get the hell out of here with your tree, you lousy bastards.' Francie had heard swearing since she ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/betty-smith-1012_emotional-expression_the-tree-man-eulogized-them-by-screaming_3090408.jpg" --- # The tree man eulogized them by screaming, 'And now get the… ![“The tree man eulogized them by screaming, 'And now get the hell out of here with your tree, you lousy bastards.' Francie had heard swearing since she had heard words. Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people. They were emotional expressions of inarticulate people with…” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/betty-smith-1012_emotional-expression_the-tree-man-eulogized-them-by-screaming_3090408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/betty-smith-1012_emotional-expression_the-tree-man-eulogized-them-by-screaming_3090408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/betty-smith-1012_emotional-expression_the-tree-man-eulogized-them-by-screaming_3090408.jpg) > ““The tree man eulogized them by screaming, 'And now get the hell out of here with your tree, you lousy bastards.' Francie had heard swearing since she had heard words. Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people. They were emotional expressions of inarticulate people with small vocabularies; they made a kind of dialect. The phrases could mean many things according to the expression and tone used in saying them. So now, when Francie heard themselves called lousy bastards, she smiled tremulously at the kind man. She knew that he was really saying, 'Good-bye--God bless you.”” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Profanity can be a raw emotional outlet for those with limited vocabulary, turning harsh words into heartfelt farewells. **In simple terms:** Swearing can mask deeper feelings. Key Takeaway Listen beyond the words to the emotion. Themes communication emotion language Mood empathetic analytical Type literary observational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - parenting - creative writing Key Concepts literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you express anger without profanity? - What does the tone reveal about intent? A Different Perspective Relying on profanity may hinder clear communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotional expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-expression/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Profanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profanity/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/) ## Related quotes > [“Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people. They were emotional expressions of inarticulate people with small vocabularies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/obscenity-and-profanity-had-no-meaning-as-such-among-those-people/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Francie had heard swearing since she had heard words. Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people. They were emotional expressions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/francie-had-heard-swearing-since-she-had-heard-words-obscenity-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [I love profanity, but I think if it's used too much, it just sounds a little trashy. I think it's more effective when it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-love-profanity-but-i-think-if-it-s-used-too-much-it-just-sounds-a/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [Okay, seriously, I dont know if this is true or not, but I heard people who use profanity are trying to compensate for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/okay-seriously-i-dont-know-if-this-is-true-or-not-but-i-heard-people/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [There ought to be a room in every house to swear in. It's dangerous to have to repress an emotion like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-ought-to-be-a-room-in-every-house-to-swear-in-it-s-dangerous-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To anyone who has followed the practice of using profanity or vulgarity and would like to correct the habit, could I offer this suggestion?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/to-anyone-who-has-followed-the-practice-of-using-profanity-or/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [It is no harm to be an ass, if one is content to bray and not kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-no-harm-to-be-an-ass-if-one-is-content-to-bray-and-not-kick/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When a gentlemen is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-a-gentlemen-is-disposed-to-swear-it-is-not-for-any-standers-by/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Profanity is the parlance of the fool. Why curse when there is such a magnificent language with which to discourse?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/profanity-is-the-parlance-of-the-fool-why-curse-when-there-is-such-a/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I'm always fighting with profanity and Christian comedy. I'm telling you, it's always a fight. Because my father said to me, he said, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-m-always-fighting-with-profanity-and-christian-comedy-i-m-telling/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Swearing relieves the feelings - that is what swearing does. I explained this to my aunt on one occasion, but it didn't answer with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/swearing-relieves-the-feelings-that-is-what-swearing-does-i-explained/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There are no dirty words in this book, except for 'hell' and 'God', in case someone is fearing that an innocent child might see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-no-dirty-words-in-this-book-except-for-hell-and-god-in-case/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Let us swear while we may, for in heaven it will not be allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/let-us-swear-while-we-may-for-in-heaven-it-will-not-be-allowed/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“She hit us,” the woman shrieked. That was the gist of it anyway. There were a lot of unladylike words that began with “F,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/she-hit-us-the-woman-shrieked-that-was-the-gist-of-it-anyway-there/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. 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Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/why-mrs-mcgarrity-s-all-right-mr-mcgarrity-s-all-right-too-only-i/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-drink-because-i-don-t-stand-a-chance-and-i-know-it-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/pipe-dreams-he-thought-to-himself-even-while-he-was-telling-her-about/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Emotional expression quotes > [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, there's a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) > [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. 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The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Religion is (a) a pre-scientific system of explanation and technology; (b) a source of meaning, direction and emotional expression in life; (c) a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-more/religion-is-a-a-pre-scientific-system-of-explanation-and-technology-b/) Max More > [In the final analysis, the incident is seen as originating from an emotional expression of the frustration and anger of the proud people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-final-analysis-the-incident-is-seen-as-originating-from-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m mesmerized by lipstick prints on coffee cups. By the lines of lips against white pottery. By the color chosen by the woman who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-leblanc/i-m-mesmerized-by-lipstick-prints-on-coffee-cups-by-the-lines-of-lips/) [Jeanette LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-leblanc/) > [Dance is the product of the necessity for pure emotional expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-meri/dance-is-the-product-of-the-necessity-for-pure-emotional-expression/) [La Meri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-meri/) > [“Human infants are born with no capability whatsoever to hide or suppress any feeling, be it hunger, fear, discomfort or pain. Healthy newborns are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/human-infants-are-born-with-no-capability-whatsoever-to-hide-or/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Like stress, emotion is a concept we often invoke without a precise sense of its meaning. And, like stress, emotions have several components. 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We found such smiles can be seen from further away (300 feet) and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/this-simple-smile-is-the-easiest-expression-to-recognize-we-found/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) [Browse all 24 Emotional expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The tree man eulogized them by screaming, 'And now get the hell out of here with your tree, you lousy bastards.' Francie had heard swearing since she had heard words. Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people. They were emotional expressions of inarticulate people with small vocabularies; they made a kind of dialect. The phrases could mean many things according to the expression and tone used in saying them. So now, when Francie heard themselves called lousy bastards, she smiled tremulously at the kind man. 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