--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A footman may swear; but he cannot swear…" description: "\"A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?\" — Jonathan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/jonathan-swift-433_delicacy_a-footman-may-swear-but-he-cannot-swear_2086625.jpg" --- # A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He… ![“A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/jonathan-swift-433_delicacy_a-footman-may-swear-but-he-cannot-swear_2086625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/jonathan-swift-433_delicacy_a-footman-may-swear-but-he-cannot-swear_2086625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/jonathan-swift-433_delicacy_a-footman-may-swear-but-he-cannot-swear_2086625.jpg) > “A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A commoner can repeat oaths, but lacks the refined judgment and propriety of a noble when swearing. **In simple terms:** Common people lack noble finesse in swearing. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of refined judgment. Themes class refinement judgment language Mood reflective critical Type analytical satirical When to use this quote - political satire - literary analysis - public speaking Key Concepts social hierarchy etiquette authority Questions to Reflect On - How does social rank affect perceived credibility? - Can refinement be taught regardless of birth? A Different Perspective Nobles may also misuse language despite status. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delicacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicacy/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Footman Swear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footman-swear-4102702/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord Swear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-swear-4102704/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Profanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profanity/) [Propriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propriety/) [Propriety Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propriety-judgment-4102705/) [Swear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swear/) [Swear Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swear-equal-4102703/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/) ## Related quotes > [I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-am-sure-cried-catherine-i-did-not-mean-to-say-anything-wrong-but-it/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Fashionable dances as now carried on are revolting to every feeling of delicacy and propriety and are fraught with the greatest danger to millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/fashionable-dances-as-now-carried-on-are-revolting-to-every-feeling/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Oratory is good only if it has the qualities of fitness for the occasion, propriety of style, and originality of treatment, while in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isocrates/oratory-is-good-only-if-it-has-the-qualities-of-fitness-for-the/) [Isocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isocrates/) > [Oh, propriety," says Mrs Benjamin. 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Do they not inscribe their signatures to the very essays they write on the propriety of despising glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/how-do-our-philosophers-act-do-they-not-inscribe-their-signatures-to/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The fruit of humanity is devotion to one's parents. The fruit of righteousness is to respect one's elders. 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Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [May you live every day of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/may-you-live-every-day-of-your-life/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/ale-is-meat-drink-and-cloth-it-will-make-a-cat-speak-and-a-wise-man/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-a-great-genius-appears-in-the-world-you-may-know-him-by-this/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desires-of-men-that-they-will-grasp/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) [Explore all 535 Jonathan Swift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More Delicacy quotes > [I decided to lock myself in. 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