--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a…" description: "\"Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.\" — Edith Sitwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png" --- # Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert… ![“Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.” quote by Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png) > “Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.” [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques modern vulgarity as a refined descendant of dullness, implying that what appears chic is often just a polished form of boredom. **In simple terms:** Modern vulgarity is a polished form of boredom. Key Takeaway Question the true value behind trendy vulgarity. Themes vulgarity modernity culture Mood critical analytical Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - media analysis - social commentary Key Concepts sociology aesthetics critique Questions to Reflect On - Is today’s 'chic' merely disguised dullness? - How does language shape our perception of vulgarity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Goddess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Vulgarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgarity/) ## Related quotes > [If certain critics and poetasters had their way, 'Ordinary Piety' and its child, Dullness, would be the masters of poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/if-certain-critics-and-poetasters-had-their-way-ordinary-piety-and/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Vulgarity is innocent; urbanity is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/vulgarity-is-innocent-urbanity-is-not/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [A thing is not vulgar merely because it is common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-thing-is-not-vulgar-merely-because-it-is-common/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The undressed is vulgar; the nude is pure, and the well-dressed tainted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-undressed-is-vulgar-the-nude-is-pure-and-the-well-dressed-tainted/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [One is born with good taste. It's very hard to acquire. You can acquire the patina of taste. But what Elsie Mendl had was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/one-is-born-with-good-taste-it-s-very-hard-to-acquire-you-can-acquire/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [Donald Trump did his usual softball interview on "Fox News" where the interviewer agreed with Trump that using that Yiddish vulgarity is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/donald-trump-did-his-usual-softball-interview-on-fox-news-where-the/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [The physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/the-physicists-have-known-sin-and-this-is-a-knowledge-which-they/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [It is an immense loss to have all robust and sustaining expletives refined away from one! At. moments of trial refinement is a feeble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/it-is-an-immense-loss-to-have-all-robust-and-sustaining-expletives/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) > [The vulgarity of inanimate things requires time to get accustomed to; but living, breathing, bustling, plotting, planning, human vulgarity is a species of moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-vulgarity-of-inanimate-things-requires-time-to-get-accustomed-to/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Vulgarity is the garlic in the salad of charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/vulgarity-is-the-garlic-in-the-salad-of-charm/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [There is a point in portraying surface vulgarity where tragedy and comedy are very close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/there-is-a-point-in-portraying-surface-vulgarity-where-tragedy-and/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [Vulgarity is setting store by the things which are seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-lady-morgan/vulgarity-is-setting-store-by-the-things-which-are-seen/) [Sydney, Lady Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-lady-morgan/) > [To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-endeavor-to-work-upon-the-vulgar-with-fine-sense-is-like/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A lot of warm vulgarity is incomparably preferable to a little bit of pinched niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/a-lot-of-warm-vulgarity-is-incomparably-preferable-to-a-little-bit-of/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [One man's vulgarity is another man's lyric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall-harlan-ii/one-man-s-vulgarity-is-another-man-s-lyric/) [John Marshall Harlan II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall-harlan-ii/) ## More by Edith Sitwell > [The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails entirely as a poet (though no doubt his ideas were good - at least, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feeling-fails-entirely-as-a-poet/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The great sins and fires break out of me like the terrible leaves from the bough in the violent spring. I am a walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-great-sins-and-fires-break-out-of-me-like-the-terrible-leaves/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [“Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/eccentricity-is-not-as-dull-people-would-have-us-believe-a-form-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. I am an unpopular electric eel set in a pond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/i-am-not-eccentric-it-s-just-that-i-am-more-alive-than-most-people-i/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/i-am-patient-with-stupidity-but-not-with-those-who-are-proud-of-it/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [“Said the lion to the lioness - "when you are amber dust - No more a raging fire like the heat of the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/said-the-lion-to-the-lioness-when-you-are-amber-dust-no-more-a-raging/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [“The fusty showman fumbles, must Fit in a particle of dust The universe, for fear it gain Its freedom from my cube of brain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-fusty-showman-fumbles-must-fit-in-a-particle-of-dust-the-universe/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The trouble with most Englishwomen is that they will dress as if they had been a mouse in a previous incarnation they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-trouble-with-most-englishwomen-is-that-they-will-dress-as-if-they/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The poet is the complete lover of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-poet-is-the-complete-lover-of-mankind/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [What is the special privilege of youth? It is, I think, the power of looking forward, the firm belief that the future holds something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/what-is-the-special-privilege-of-youth-it-is-i-think-the-power-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Rhythm is one of the principal translators between dream and reality. Rhythm might be described as, to the world of sound, what light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/rhythm-is-one-of-the-principal-translators-between-dream-and-reality/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/winter-is-the-time-for-comfort-for-good-food-and-warmth-for-the-touch/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Hot water is my native element. I was in it as a baby, and I have never seemed to get out of it ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/hot-water-is-my-native-element-i-was-in-it-as-a-baby-and-i-have-never/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The aim of flattery is to soothe and encourage us by assuring us of the truth of an opinion we have already formed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-aim-of-flattery-is-to-soothe-and-encourage-us-by-assuring-us-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed keeping rabbits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/a-great-many-people-now-reading-and-writing-would-be-better-employed/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) [Explore all 85 Edith Sitwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) ## More Chic quotes > [I think dressing up or down should be a creative experience. Exciting. Fun. For me the key to personal style lies in accessories. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/i-think-dressing-up-or-down-should-be-a-creative-experience-exciting/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [I had two sisters, and we would love to get dressed up and pretend that we were chic, sophisticated ladies. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/i-had-two-sisters-and-we-would-love-to-get-dressed-up-and-pretend/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [Uggs can be as chic as heels for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/uggs-can-be-as-chic-as-heels-for-women/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [The true test of a man's style is the haircut. There are some men who look good no matter how their hair is styled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/the-true-test-of-a-man-s-style-is-the-haircut-there-are-some-men-who/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [“I remember thinking that. You were dork chic before dork chic was chic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-remember-thinking-that-you-were-dork-chic-before-dork-chic-was-chic/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Winter dressing is all about having chic outerwear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kotsiopoulos/winter-dressing-is-all-about-having-chic-outerwear/) [George Kotsiopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kotsiopoulos/) > [I like to mix the street look with classy and sexy. I call it 'hood chic.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-skye/i-like-to-mix-the-street-look-with-classy-and-sexy-i-call-it-hood-chic/) [Justine Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-skye/) > [Tragedy is chic but discontent is dowdy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-loring/tragedy-is-chic-but-discontent-is-dowdy/) [Emilie Loring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-loring/) > [I kind of had an idea that New York would be like Fashion Week, where everyone always looks incredibly chic and cool, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/i-kind-of-had-an-idea-that-new-york-would-be-like-fashion-week-where/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [Actually, recording the Suite Chic album was so much fun and while working on this new album, people that I've worked with from Suite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/actually-recording-the-suite-chic-album-was-so-much-fun-and-while/) [Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/) > [French designers are classic, chic, and traditional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/french-designers-are-classic-chic-and-traditional/) [Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/) > [I have never known a really chic woman whose appearance was not, in large part, an outward reflection of her inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mainbocher/i-have-never-known-a-really-chic-woman-whose-appearance-was-not-in/) Mainbocher > [I like to dress pretty basic during the day, but with a sophisticated bohemian spin, and sometimes a little rock chic. At night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-ambrosio/i-like-to-dress-pretty-basic-during-the-day-but-with-a-sophisticated/) [Alessandra Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-ambrosio/) > [Making loans and fighting poverty are normally two of the least glamorous pursuits around, but put the two together and you have an economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/making-loans-and-fighting-poverty-are-normally-two-of-the-least/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > ['Style Strategy' is about shopping smart, staying chic and making it all last. It's about showing women how to shop for value without compromising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-garcia/style-strategy-is-about-shopping-smart-staying-chic-and-making-it-all/) [Nina Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-garcia/) Browse all 230 Chic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edith Sitwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-modern-chic-pert-descendant-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-modern-chic-pert-descendant-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/edith-sitwell-8023_chic_vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-mo_1520096.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.” — Edith Sitwell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edith Sitwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-modern-chic-pert-descendant-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/vulgarity-is-in-reality-nothing-but-a-modern-chic-pert-descendant-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```