---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't swear just for the hell of it…"
description: "\"“I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor enough means of communication. I think we should use all the words we've got. Besides, there..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png"
---

#  I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor…

![“I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor enough means of communication. I think we should use all the words we've got. Besides, there are damn few words that anybody understands. Henry Drummond, a character in Inherit the Wind” quote by Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png)

> ““I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor enough means of communication. I think we should use all the words we've got. Besides, there are damn few words that anybody understands. Henry Drummond, a character in Inherit the Wind””

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The character argues that language is limited and many words are misunderstood, urging use of all available words despite their imperfections.

**In simple terms:** Language is imperfect but must be used fully.

Key Takeaway

Use words wisely despite limits.

Themes

communication language limits clarity

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

dramatic educational

When to use this quote

- debates
- teaching
- public speaking
- writing

Key Concepts

philosophy rhetoric education

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we improve understanding?
- When should we simplify language?

A Different Perspective

May ignore non‑verbal communication.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Inherit the wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherit-the-wind/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/)

## Related quotes

> [The aftermath of the war is what inspired us to write many of our plays. The whole reason for our writing Inherit the Wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/the-aftermath-of-the-war-is-what-inspired-us-to-write-many-of-our/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [In no instance is there to be a musical or opera of Inherit the Wind because it doesn't sing. It's an intellectual play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/in-no-instance-is-there-to-be-a-musical-or-opera-of-inherit-the-wind/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/progress-has-never-been-a-bargain-you-have-to-pay-for-it-sometimes-i/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“He who sows discord in his own house will inherit the wind. Proverbs 11:19”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-sows-discord-in-his-own-house-will-inherit-the-wind-proverbs/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I did Inherit the Wind, I learned about teaching school. I also found out what a fundamentalist was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-york/when-i-did-inherit-the-wind-i-learned-about-teaching-school-i-also/)

[Dick York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-york/)

> [Inherit the Wind is a wonderful play, and I was in the original with Paul Muni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-randall/inherit-the-wind-is-a-wonderful-play-and-i-was-in-the-original-with/)

[Tony Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-randall/)

> [But to paraphrase Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind, ignorance and mediocrity are forever busy, and the forces of mediocrity aren't content with being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/but-to-paraphrase-henry-drummond-in-inherit-the-wind-ignorance-and/)

[Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/)

> [No kid in the world, no woman in the world should ever raise a hand against a no-good daddy. That's already been taken care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/no-kid-in-the-world-no-woman-in-the-world-should-ever-raise-a-hand/)

[Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/)

> [“Can't you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/can-t-you-understand-that-if-you-take-a-law-like-evolution-and-you/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Darwin was wrong. Man's still an ape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/darwin-was-wrong-man-s-still-an-ape/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/an-idea-is-a-greater-monument-than-a-cathedral-and-the-advance-of-man-2/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/progress-has-never-been-a-bargain-you-have-to-pay-for-it-sometimes-i-2/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“…I must say that "Right" has no meaning to me whatsoever! Truth has meaning - as a direction. But one of the peculiar imbecilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-must-say-that-right-has-no-meaning-to-me-whatsoever-truth-has/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Believe it or not, I swear I'm just a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/believe-it-or-not-i-swear-i-m-just-a-human-being/)

[Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/)

> [“It means I'm a fuckup, but I'm going to get it figured out. I swear. Just...don't give up on me, okay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/it-means-i-m-a-fuckup-but-i-m-going-to-get-it-figured-out-i-swear/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

## More by Jerome Lawrence

> [When you lose the power to laugh, you lose your power to think straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/when-you-lose-the-power-to-laugh-you-lose-your-power-to-think-straight/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“He weighs the volume in his hand; this one has been the center of the whirlwind. Then DRUMMOND notices the Bible on the JUDGE's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/he-weighs-the-volume-in-his-hand-this-one-has-been-the-center-of-the/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/progress-has-never-been-a-bargain-you-have-to-pay-for-it-sometimes-i/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [I think enthusiasm is the answer to passionate writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-think-enthusiasm-is-the-answer-to-passionate-writing/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [All motion is relative. Maybe it's you who've moved away by standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/all-motion-is-relative-maybe-it-s-you-who-ve-moved-away-by-standing/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [The whole point of writing is to have something in your gut or in your soul or in your mind that's burning to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/the-whole-point-of-writing-is-to-have-something-in-your-gut-or-in/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [It's always such a joy that you wake up in the morning and there's work to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/it-s-always-such-a-joy-that-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-there-s/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“Why? Because I refuse to erase a man's lifetime? I tell you Brady had the same right as Cates: the right to be wrong!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/why-because-i-refuse-to-erase-a-man-s-lifetime-i-tell-you-brady-had/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [The aftermath of the war is what inspired us to write many of our plays. The whole reason for our writing Inherit the Wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/the-aftermath-of-the-war-is-what-inspired-us-to-write-many-of-our/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“Hot dog? Bible? Now that poses a problem! Which is hungrier-my stomach or my soul?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/hot-dog-bible-now-that-poses-a-problem-which-is-hungrier-my-stomach/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [The man who has everything figured out is probably a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/the-man-who-has-everything-figured-out-is-probably-a-fool/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [Our only competition in the theater is boredom, because if I'm bored with a play, if I'm revolted by a play on stage, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/our-only-competition-in-the-theater-is-boredom-because-if-i-m-bored/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [A play is a passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/a-play-is-a-passion/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“A giant once lived in that body. But Matt Brady got lost. Because he was looking for God too high up and too far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/a-giant-once-lived-in-that-body-but-matt-brady-got-lost-because-he/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

> [“Can't you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/can-t-you-understand-that-if-you-take-a-law-like-evolution-and-you/)

[Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

[Explore all 35 Jerome Lawrence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor enough means of communication. I think we should use all the words we've got. Besides, there are damn few words that anybody understands. Henry Drummond, a character in Inherit the Wind”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jerome Lawrence"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-language-is-a-poor-enough-means/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-language-is-a-poor-enough-means/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/jerome-lawrence-18153_communication_i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-la_918186.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't swear just for the hell of it. Language is a poor enough means of communication. I think we should…” — Jerome Lawrence",
                "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": "Jerome Lawrence",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don't swear just for the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-language-is-a-poor-enough-means/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/i-don-t-swear-just-for-the-hell-of-it-language-is-a-poor-enough-means/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```