Faux Pas Quotes

• Every person who speaks or writes for the public will make an occasional faux pas, and sooner or later will write or say something inappropriate.

  Dennis Prager

  Writing, Speak, Inappropriate

  "A Letter to Young Voters" by Dennis Prager, www.realclearpolitics.com. July 17, 2012.

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• The difference between chirping out of turn and a faux pas depends on what kind of a bar you're in.

  Wilson Mizner

  Wisdom, Differences, Bars

  Evanell K. Powell Brant, Addison Mizner, Wilson Mizner (1979*). “Debauched Proverbs and Other Miznerisms of Addison Mizner and Wilson Mizner”

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• I've turned up to costume parties in the wrong costume. I've made social faux pas a plenty. I've put one foot in front of the other and fallen over.

  Benedict Cumberbatch

  Party, Feet, Costumes

  "Benedict Cumberbatch On Alan Turing's Awkwardness And Sherlock's Sex Appeal". Interview with Dave Davies, listen.sdpb.org. January 22, 2015.

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• Many faux pas of fashion can be avoided if you curb your instinctive desire to buy things with your heart instead of your head.

  Edith Head

  Fashion, Heart, Desire

  Edith Head, Joe Hyams (1967). “HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS”

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• One's own flowers and some of one's own vegetables make acceptable, free, self-congratulatory gifts when visiting friends, though giving zucchini - or leaving it on the doorstep, ringing the bell, and running - is a social faux pas.

  Barbara Holland

  Running, Flower, Zucchini

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• Most people sitting at home aren't cool, successful, witty Hollywood stars, but they all worry about what people think of them when they faux pas.

  Ricky Gervais

  Witty, Stars, Home

  Interview with Scott Gordon, www.avclub.com. January 10, 2007.

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• My biggest faux pas is not giving time for myself.

  Donna Karan

  Giving, Giving Time, Faux

  Interview with Calvin Klein, www.interviewmagazine.com. April 27, 2009.

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• I stopped the blade two inches before it touched Andrea’s neck. Because she was my best friend, and sticking knives into your best friend’s windpipe was generally considered to be a social faux pas.

  Ilona Andrews

  Knives, Two, My Best Friend

  Ilona Andrews (2009). “Magic Strikes”, p.32, Penguin

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• The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are. They're so self-absorbed, so selfish and so forth. With Obama, it's always, "There's nothing to see here, because he's a dream of a guy to begin with" and all that. "He missed the Gulf of Mexico? So what! He thinks there are 57 states? Big deal! At least he's trying; at least he cares," is the way it goes.

  Rush Limbaugh

  Dream, Stupid, Selfish

  Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

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• In a safe Western world where we're not being shot at and we're not starving, the worst thing that happens to us most days is someone's rude to us, or we accidentally insult someone. Social faux pas is the worst thing that happens to most people, most days, so we've got to concentrate on that, really.

  Ricky Gervais

  People, Rude, World

  Interview with Scott Gordon, www.avclub.com. January 10, 2007.

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• The secular humanist, although he would never dream of committing the social faux pas of calling a black man a negro, feels perfectly free to castigate Christians and their leaders in any way he likes.

  Frank Schaeffer

  Christian, Dream, Men

  Frank Schaeffer (1982). “A time for anger: the myth of neutrality”, Good News Publishers

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• Anything that's really grounded in humanity and is real, but just happens to be faux pas, or just really shouldn't be funny, I like it.

  Rockmond Dunbar

  Real, Humanity, Grounded

  Source: collider.com

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• The terms "idiot" and "lunatic" were acceptable diagnostic terms in England up until 1959. "Imbecile" and "feeble-minded person" were, likewise, listed as official categories in the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. England has always lagged a bit behind in discarding outdated terms for the disadvantaged. When I was there in 1980, it was still possible to shop for used clothing at the local Spastic Shop. That is, compared to the United States, where it takes, oh, about twenty-five minutes for a diagnostic euphemism to become a conversational faux pas.

  Mary Roach

  Imbeciles, England, Twenties

  Mary Roach (2010). “Six Feet Over: Adventures in the Afterlife”, p.56, Canongate Books

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• My worst fashion faux pas: probably orange shoes with white pants. I thought I looked spectacular.

  Kevin O'Leary

  Fashion, Shoes, White

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• There are certain bad habits we've groomed our whole life -- from personality flaws to fashion faux pas. And it has been the role of parents and friends, outside of some minor tweaking, to reinforce the belief that we're okay just as we are. But it's not enough to just be yourself. You have to be your best self. And that's a tall order if you haven't found your best self yet.

  Neil Strauss

  Fashion, Being Yourself, Order

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• Fashion faux pas should be celebrated. I enjoy them because it means we're not all clones.

  Linda Evangelista

  Fashion, Mean, Should

  "This much I know". Interview With Lucy Siegle, www.theguardian.com. October 2, 2005.

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• to a Southerner it is faux pas, not sins, that matter in this world.

  Florence King

  World, Matter, Sin

  Florence King (1993). “Southern Ladies & Gentlemen”, p.12, Macmillan

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• I like big escapist films. It's odd because the type of comedian I am and the things I do when I'm writing and directing myself usually deal with the darker side of the human psyche and excruciating social faux pas. I often deal in taboos and the subjects I do as a stand-up are quite challenging. But my film roles have been much more fun and escapist.

  Ricky Gervais

  Fun, Writing, Challenges

  "Ricky Gervais Interview: 'Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb', Corpsing With Ben Stiller And The Best Bits Of His Job". HuffPostUK Intreview, www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. July 4, 2015.

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• A fashion faux pas is what happens when you're not confident with yourself.

  Loulou de la Falaise

  Fashion, Happens, Faux

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• Many, perhaps most, people who lose their jobs are mistaken about the reason for which they lost their jobs. Some will say that they're failures, others that their boss had it in for them, and others yet that they were sure their career ended because of a stupid faux pas they made at the company picnic.

  Harvey Mackay

  Jobs, Stupid, Careers

  Harvey Mackay (2004). “We Got Fired!: . . . And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us”, p.51, Ballantine Books

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• Today's mom watches her every child-rearing step lest she commit some egregious and apocalyptic parenting faux pas that will certainly doom her child to a life spent sleeping under overpasses, or worse, not going to Harvard.

  John Rosemond

  Mom, Children, Sleep

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• When I was dating and the wine list was presented to my male companion, I tried to ignore this unfortunate faux pas. But this practice still goes on...Closing note to all servers and sommeliers: please include women in wine selection. Okay?

  Alpana Singh

  Wine, Practice, Dating

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