ONCE, a barber was shaving a gentleman. The latter was cut slightly by the razor. At once he cried out, "Damn!" But the barber didn't know the meaning of the word. He put his razor and other shaving articles aside, tucked up his shirt-sleeves— it was winter—, and said: "You said 'Damn!' to me. Now you must tell me its meaning". The gentleman said, "Don't be silly. Go on with your shaving. The word doesn't mean anything in particular; but shave a little more carefully." But the barber wouldn't let him off so easily. He said, "If 'damn' means something good, then I am a 'damn', my father is a 'damn', and all my ancestors are 'damn'. But if it means something bad, then you are a 'damn', your father is a 'damn' and all your ancestors are 'damns'. They are not only 'damns', but 'damn—damn-damn—da—damn— damn."
In the midst of company, one should be careful not to offend others by indulging in talks which they cannot understand. (196)