How to Read “A vulgar person’s talk ends in shit”
Gesu no hanashi wa kuso de osamaru
Meaning of “A vulgar person’s talk ends in shit”
This proverb means that people with low character always end up talking about crude topics. No matter what subject they start with, their true nature shows through.
Eventually, the conversation drifts toward gossip, dirty jokes, insults, or lowbrow humor. It’s like watching water flow downhill—it always finds the lowest point.
People use this saying to criticize someone who constantly brings up vulgar topics. It also applies when you’re tired of dealing with such conversations.
The proverb serves as a warning too. It reminds us that our words reflect our character.
Even today, this wisdom applies to many situations. Think of people who only post criticism or crude content on social media.
Or coworkers who can’t have constructive discussions and only gossip or complain. The proverb captures a timeless truth about human nature.
What we talk about reveals who we really are inside.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb isn’t clearly documented. However, scholars believe it was used among common people during the Edo period.
The word “gesu” originally referred to people of low social status. Over time, it came to mean someone with low character or poor manners.
This expression is remarkably direct and raw. Edo period common culture preferred straight talk over polite euphemisms.
By deliberately using the word “kuso” (shit), the proverb creates a powerful and memorable image. It drives home exactly where vulgar talk leads.
In that era, people believed conversation revealed a person’s character. Educated people quoted poetry and classical stories. They chose refined topics for discussion.
Meanwhile, people lacking refinement preferred lowbrow gossip and crude jokes. This pattern was widely observed and commented upon.
The proverb emerged from these observations of human behavior. It served as both satire and warning about people who always steer conversations toward vulgarity.
Interestingly, the proverb’s crude language embodies its own lesson. The choice of words demonstrates the very principle it teaches.
Usage Examples
- Talking with that person is like “a vulgar person’s talk ends in shit”—it always ends with someone being insulted
- We had a nice dinner party, but “a vulgar person’s talk ends in shit,” and it turned into a dirty joke contest
Universal Wisdom
This proverb teaches us a harsh but true insight. A person’s true nature cannot be hidden forever.
No matter how much someone tries to pretend, their inner self eventually shows through their words. Conversation reveals what’s really inside.
Why do some people gravitate toward crude topics? Because we can only express what exists within us.
If your mind lacks beautiful thoughts or noble interests, your conversation topics become limited. What you think about daily naturally becomes what you talk about.
This proverb has endured because of its sharp observation of human nature. We all judge people by what they say.
When meeting someone new, we sense their education and character through conversation. We unconsciously decide whether to deepen the relationship based on their word choices and topics.
Our ancestors understood that watching what people talk about reveals their essence. Words are mirrors of the heart. Conversation expresses character.
This truth never fades with time. In fact, in our word-saturated modern world, this wisdom may be more valuable than ever.
When AI Hears This
Information theory tells us that poor-quality communication channels degrade even good information. This proverb illustrates “channel capacity limits” in conversation.
Some dialogue systems simply lack the structural ability to transmit high-quality information. It’s a fundamental limitation, not just a temporary problem.
What’s fascinating is the “cascade effect” where information degrades as conversation progresses. Even if a discussion starts with normal topics, low-resolution thinking patterns add noise with each exchange.
Shannon’s information theory shows that noisy channels with multiple relays eventually lose the original information completely. The proverb’s “ends in shit” describes maximum information entropy—a state where meaningful information reaches zero.
This also reveals “filtering ability deficiency.” Quality dialogue requires participants to filter irrelevant information and extract important signals.
When this filter fails, any input converts to the same low-quality output. This represents a fatal flaw in the information processing system.
Regardless of input quality, output converges to a consistently low level. In a way, it’s a predictable and measurable outcome.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us to be conscious of what we put into our minds. Your conversation is a mirror reflecting who you are.
What you view on social media, what you read, who you interact with—all of this shapes your inner world. Eventually, it emerges through your words.
If you consume only crude content, you’ll naturally produce only crude output. It’s an inevitable consequence of what you feed your mind.
But here’s the hopeful message. The reverse is also true.
If you engage with beautiful things, think deeply, and practice quality dialogue, your conversation naturally improves. The books you read, movies you watch, and people you befriend shape your future self.
Why not start paying attention to your conversations today? Notice what topics you choose and what words you use.
They reveal your current state of mind. If you want richer conversations, start by enriching your inner life.
When your inside changes, your words will inevitably change too.
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