'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.
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?
A whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him and might not spend them at my pleasure. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?
Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.
Ethelberta breathed a sort of exclamation, not right out, but stealthily, like a parson's damn.
Grant me some wild expressions, Heavens, or I shall burst.
I've tried to reduce profanity but I reduced so much profanity when writing the book that I'm afraid not much could come out. Perhaps we will have to consider it simply as a profane book and hope that the next book will be less profane or perhaps more sacred.
It comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him.
Oaths are the fossils of piety.
Take not God's name in vain; select a time when it will have effect.