---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes to return is a vulgarity."
description: "\"“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.”\" — John Fowles"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png"
---

#  Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.

![“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.” quote by John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png)

> ““Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.””

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

## About This Quote

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

Returning can be seen as a crass act, lacking subtlety or depth.

**In simple terms:** Returning may feel crude.

Key Takeaway

Consider motives before returning.

Themes

return crudeness social norms

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- social interactions
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

authenticity self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- When is returning appropriate?
- How can you return with grace?

A Different Perspective

It may ignore the value of reconciliation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Vulgarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgarity/)

## Related quotes

> [How wide are the horizons of the spinning earth! The moonlight leads the tides and the sun's light will not be confined within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsu-yun/how-wide-are-the-horizons-of-the-spinning-earth-the-moonlight-leads/)

Hsu Yun

> [In some sort of crude sense, which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin; and this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/in-some-sort-of-crude-sense-which-no-vulgarity-no-humor-no/)

[J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/)

> [Just let matters slide. How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/just-let-matters-slide-how-much-better-to-accept-each-sweet-drop-of/)

[Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/)

> [A conservative, I take it, is a man who despises vulgarity; but the argument which is concerned exclusively with calculations of success, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/a-conservative-i-take-it-is-a-man-who-despises-vulgarity-but-the/)

[Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/)

> [Vulgarity in a king flatters the majority of the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/vulgarity-in-a-king-flatters-the-majority-of-the-nation/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Godlessness invariably produces vulgarity. Civilization is the product of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/godlessness-invariably-produces-vulgarity-civilization-is-the-product/)

[Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/)

> [“She represents the beauty of the common people in all its vulgarity and provocativeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaa-al-aswany/she-represents-the-beauty-of-the-common-people-in-all-its-vulgarity/)

[Alaa Al Aswany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaa-al-aswany/)

> [There is in the world only the choice between loneliness and vulgarity. All young people should be taught now to put up with loneliness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/there-is-in-the-world-only-the-choice-between-loneliness-and/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [Vulgarity is the conduct of other people, just as falsehoods are the truths of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/vulgarity-is-the-conduct-of-other-people-just-as-falsehoods-are-the/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Put your point across respectfully and convincingly. Those who become vulgar, angry or violent usually do not have a valid point to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/put-your-point-across-respectfully-and-convincingly-those-who-become/)

[Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/)

> [It is the fine souls who serve us, and not what is called fine society. Fine society is only a self-protection against the vulgarities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-the-fine-souls-who-serve-us-and-not-what-is-called-fine-society/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [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/)

> [For every one pupil who needs to be guarded against a weak excess of sensibility there are three who need to be awakened from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-every-one-pupil-who-needs-to-be-guarded-against-a-weak-excess-of/)

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

> [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/)

> [This point seems counter-intuitive, given the amount of conspicuous vulgarity, vice, and immorality in America. Indeed some Islamic fundamentalists argue that their regimes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/this-point-seems-counter-intuitive-given-the-amount-of-conspicuous/)

[Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/)

## More by John Fowles

> [I am infinitely strange to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-am-infinitely-strange-to-myself/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [I do not plan my fiction any more than I normally plan woodland walks; I follow the path that seems most promising at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-do-not-plan-my-fiction-any-more-than-i-normally-plan-woodland-walks/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [“The sky is absolutely empty. Beautifully pure and empty. As if the architects and builders would live in all the houses they built! Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-sky-is-absolutely-empty-beautifully-pure-and-empty-as-if-the/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [“The evolution of human mentality has put us all in vitro now, behind the glass wall of our own ingenuity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-evolution-of-human-mentality-has-put-us-all-in-vitro-now-behind/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [Most marriages recognize this paradox: Passion destroys passion; we want what puts an end to wanting what we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/most-marriages-recognize-this-paradox-passion-destroys-passion-we/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [That is the great distinction between the sexes. Men see objects, women see the relationships between objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/that-is-the-great-distinction-between-the-sexes-men-see-objects-women/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [The craving to risk death is our last great perversion. We come from night, we go into night. Why live in night?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-craving-to-risk-death-is-our-last-great-perversion-we-come-from/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [There is only one good definition of God: the freedom that allows other freedoms to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/there-is-only-one-good-definition-of-god-the-freedom-that-allows/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [They looked down on her; and she looked up through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/they-looked-down-on-her-and-she-looked-up-through-them/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [“Long afterwards I realized why some men, racing drivers and their like, become addicted to speed. There are those of us who never see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/long-afterwards-i-realized-why-some-men-racing-drivers-and-their-like/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [The best wines take the longest to mature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-best-wines-take-the-longest-to-mature/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [But however good you get at translating personality into line or paint it's no go if your personality isn't worth translating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/but-however-good-you-get-at-translating-personality-into-line-or/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [“Liking other people is an illusion we have to cherish in ourselves if we are to live in society. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/liking-other-people-is-an-illusion-we-have-to-cherish-in-ourselves-if/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [Do you know that every great thing in the history of art and every beautiful thing in life is actually what you call nasty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/do-you-know-that-every-great-thing-in-the-history-of-art-and-every/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [“Yet this distance, all those abysses unbridged and then unbridgeable by radio, television, cheap travel and the rest, was not wholly bad. People knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/yet-this-distance-all-those-abysses-unbridged-and-then-unbridgeable/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

[Explore all 341 John Fowles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

## More Move on quotes

> [Loving him is what you did best and moving on is what will you do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/loving-him-is-what-you-did-best-and-moving-on-is-what-will-you-do-next/)

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

> [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/)

[Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/)

> [Once I've designed something, I immediately move on to the next thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-wearstler/once-i-ve-designed-something-i-immediately-move-on-to-the-next-thing/)

[Kelly Wearstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-wearstler/)

> [“Ganteng-ganteng kalau nggak bisa move on buat apa?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devania-annesya/ganteng-ganteng-kalau-nggak-bisa-move-on-buat-apa/)

[Devania Annesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devania-annesya/)

> [It feels good when you learn to move on in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/it-feels-good-when-you-learn-to-move-on-in-life/)

[Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/)

> [Being single doesn't mean your open to any dumb ass that comes your way. It means TIME TO PUT YOUR LIFE TOGETHER AND TRIUMPH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osvaldo-m/being-single-doesn-t-mean-your-open-to-any-dumb-ass-that-comes-your/)

[Osvaldo M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osvaldo-m/)

> [I never set out to make a movie that was everything to everybody; if that were the case, we could all just take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-set-out-to-make-a-movie-that-was-everything-to-everybody-if/)

[Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/)

> [“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/life-is-about-accepting-the-challenges-along-the-way-choosing-to-keep/)

[Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/)

> [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [When I got fired, I had a feeling of loss because Viacom had been a passionate long-term relationship. But I got my balance back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-freston/when-i-got-fired-i-had-a-feeling-of-loss-because-viacom-had-been-a/)

[Tom Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-freston/)

> [I'm a suck-it-up-and-move-on kind of person. Every day is a new day, and you'll never be able to find happiness if you don't move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/i-m-a-suck-it-up-and-move-on-kind-of-person-every-day-is-a-new-day/)

[Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/)

> [“I don't understand women that call themselves a "bitch". It doesn't empower a woman. Rather, it reveals to everyone that you were deeply hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-women-that-call-themselves-a-bitch-it-doesn-t/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [Your unfinished business of the past can hold you from moving forward to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe/your-unfinished-business-of-the-past-can-hold-you-from-moving-forward/)

[Simphiwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe/)

> [When I was involved with 'Star Wars,' I was very interested in all the backstories, and I used to pepper George with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hamill/when-i-was-involved-with-star-wars-i-was-very-interested-in-all-the/)

[Mark Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hamill/)

> [“Your past and your pain will certainly impact you, but they don’t have to define you. You get to write your own definition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/your-past-and-your-pain-will-certainly-impact-you-but-they-don-t-have/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

Browse all 418 Move on quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Fowles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Move on"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/john-fowles-816_move-on_sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity-68281_682814.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.” — John Fowles",
                "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": "John Fowles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Sometimes to return is a vulgarity.”",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/sometimes-to-return-is-a-vulgarity/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
