Euphemism Quotes

57 quotes by 52 authors

Devising a vocabulary for gardening is like devising a vocabulary for sex. There are the correct Latin names, but most people invent euphemisms. Those who… — Diane Ackerman
The Good Book - one of the most remarkable euphemisms ever coined. — Ashley Montagu
Frankness is usually a euphemism for rudeness. — Muriel Spark
To call yourself 'plus size' is just a euphemism for being fat. Life is much easier when you're thinner. Big is not beautiful, of course… — Katie Hopkins
I'm with an old family" was the euphemism used to dignify the professions of white folks' cooks and maids who talked so affectedly among their… — Malcolm X
The lyric abstrusities of Auden ring mystically down the circular canals of my ear and it begins to look like snow. The good gray conservative… — Sylvia Plath
Euphemism in the workplace does not end with job descriptions. It reaches a pusillanimous peak at the other end of the work process - in… — Nigel Rees
The Japanese tend to communicate via nuance and euphemism, often leaving important things unsaid; whereas Americans tend to think they're being subtle when they refrain… — Dave Barry
To use a Southern euphemism, our space program has been snake-bit. — Al Gore
Euphemisms are not, as many young people think, useless verbiage for that which can and should be said bluntly; they are like secret agents on… — Quentin Crisp
Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne. — Quentin Crisp
Though intelligence is powerless to modify character, it is a dab hand at finding euphemisms for its weaknesses. — Quentin Crisp
Asymmetrical warfare is a euphemism for terrorism, just like collateral damage is a euphemism for killing innocent civilians. — Alan Dershowitz
To speak specifically of our problem with the Muslim world, we are meandering into a genuine clash of civilizations, and we're deluding ourselves with euphemisms.… — Sam Harris
Euphemism is a human device to conceal the horrors of reality. — Paul Johnson
For one thing, before the 20th century, there were plenty of genocides. We tend to forget about them, partly because they weren't as well documented… — Steven Pinker
Negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table. — George P. Shultz
Patrimonial capitalism's legacy is that many people see reform as a euphemism for corruption and self-dealing. — James Surowiecki
As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying it.… — Gore Vidal
Cloud computing is a great euphemism for centralization of computer services under one server. — Evgeny Morozov

Who Wrote These Euphemism Quotes

52 authors contributed a total of 57 Euphemism Quotes, led by these top contributors: