---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we tolerate vulgarity our future will…"
description: "\"“If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so. We have the brains and the heart to face our fu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png"
---

#  If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall…

![“If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so. We have the brains and the heart to face our futures bravely. Taking responsibility for the time we take up and the space we occupy. To respect our ancestors and out of concern for our…” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png)

> ““If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so. We have the brains and the heart to face our futures bravely. Taking responsibility for the time we take up and the space we occupy. To respect our ancestors and out of concern for our descendants, we must show ourselves as courteous and courageous well-meaning Americans. Now.””

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

## About This Quote

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

Encourages civic virtue and respectful behavior to avoid societal decline.

**In simple terms:** Be courteous and brave for future generations.

Key Takeaway

Act responsibly and honor ancestors.

Themes

civic duty respect future generations

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

inspirational ethical

When to use this quote

- community leadership
- education
- family upbringing
- public discourse

Key Concepts

social responsibility ethical conduct American identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can individuals foster respect in polarized societies?
- What actions show courage today?

A Different Perspective

Idealism may overlook systemic barriers to change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Concern Descendants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern-descendants-882216/) [National-spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-spirit-129126/) [Occupy Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupy-respect-882213/) [Respect Ancestors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-ancestors-882214/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tolerate Vulgarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate-vulgarity-882212/) [Vulgarity Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgarity-future-882215/)

## Related quotes

> [“Japanese people today think of money, just money: Where is our national spirit today? The Jieitai must be the soul of Japan. … The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/japanese-people-today-think-of-money-just-money-where-is-our-national/)

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

> [We are not primitive. We live differently to you, but we do not live exactly like our grandparents did, nor do you. Were your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-sesana/we-are-not-primitive-we-live-differently-to-you-but-we-do-not-live/)

[Roy Sesana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-sesana/)

## More by Maya Angelou

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Intelligence is a separate gift, for the benefit of students, so that they may think of themselves as intellectual and not very intelligent, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/intelligence-is-a-separate-gift-for-the-benefit-of-students-so-that/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-is-going-to-give-you-just-what-you-put-in-it-put-your-whole/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-write-me-down-in-history-with-your-bitter-twisted-lies-you/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-more-you-know-of-your-history-the-more-liberated-you-are/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Life offers us tickets to places which we have not knowingly asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-offers-us-tickets-to-places-which-we-have-not-knowingly-asked-for/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that easy reading is damn hard writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/nathaniel-hawthorne-once-said-that-easy-reading-is-damn-hard-writing/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Sunday, if I'm lucky, I'll go to church or listen to some good spiritual advice on the television or on the radio. I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sunday-if-i-m-lucky-i-ll-go-to-church-or-listen-to-some-good/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

[Explore all 1,313 Maya Angelou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

## More National-spirit quotes

> [“Japanese people today think of money, just money: Where is our national spirit today? The Jieitai must be the soul of Japan. … The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/japanese-people-today-think-of-money-just-money-where-is-our-national/)

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

[Browse all 2 National-spirit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-spirit-129126/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so. We have the brains and the heart to face our futures bravely. Taking responsibility for the time we take up and the space we occupy. To respect our ancestors and out of concern for our descendants, we must show ourselves as courteous and courageous well-meaning Americans. Now.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Maya Angelou"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will-sway-and-fall-under-a-burden/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "National-spirit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will-sway-and-fall-under-a-burden/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/maya-angelou-104_national-spirit_if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will_2482866.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we tolerate vulgarity our future will sway and fall under a burden of ignorance. It need not be so. We…” — Maya Angelou",
                "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": "Maya Angelou",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If we tolerate vulgarity our future...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will-sway-and-fall-under-a-burden/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-tolerate-vulgarity-our-future-will-sway-and-fall-under-a-burden/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
