"در زبان انگلیسی ۴۰۰۰۰۰ کلمه وجود دارد و هفت کلمه وجود دارند که نمی‌توانید در تلویزیون بگویید. چه نسبتی است. ۳۹۹۹۹۳ به ۷. آنها باید واقعاً بد باشند. باید خیلی عجیب و غریب باشند که از یک گروه به این بزرگی جدا شوند."

Imagine you’ve got this massive toolbox with 400,000 different tools. Now, out of all those tools, there are only seven that are off-limits, that you just can’t use. That’s what the comedian George Carlin was getting at when he pointed out the tiny list of words banned from television out of the vast sea of the English language. It’s a funny way to show just how specific and seemingly arbitrary censorship can be.

Let’s break it down. Carlin’s point is really about language, censorship, and societal norms. Think about it: with such a huge number of words available, it seems almost absurd that only seven get this special, forbidden status. These words are deemed so offensive that they’re set apart from the rest and banned from being broadcasted. It highlights how society decides what’s acceptable and what’s not, often in ways that can seem a bit over the top.

Carlin originally brought this up in the 1970s, a time when television was the main source of entertainment, and the standards for what could be shown or said were pretty strict. The idea was to keep the airwaves “clean,” protecting viewers—especially the kids—from anything deemed too crude. It was also a time when the counterculture was challenging the status quo, and Carlin, with his sharp wit, was at the forefront of that movement.

Let’s put this into a real-life context. Think about the comedian’s craft. Comedians often push boundaries to make us laugh and think. Dave Chappelle, for instance, has faced backlash for some of his routines. He uses certain words and themes that some find offensive, but others argue that he’s just holding up a mirror to society. Just like Carlin, Chappelle’s comedy often sparks debates about what’s socially acceptable and the role of censorship.

So, how do we apply this wisdom to our everyday lives? It’s about questioning the norms—why are certain things off-limits? And, should they be? It’s not about being crass for the sake of it, but about understanding the power of language and the reasons behind these restrictions. Maybe the next time you’re about to hold back from saying something because it feels taboo, you’ll think about why that is. And, whether it’s the word or the context that’s the problem.

Now, let’s imagine you’re at a family dinner. Your uncle starts to tell a joke, and just before he hits the punchline, he holds back, glancing around to make sure there are no kids within earshot. It’s a small moment, but it says a lot. He’s navigating those unspoken rules about what’s okay to say and what’s not. Carlin’s observation makes you think—are those seven words really that different from the rest? Or are they just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding our communication and the boundaries we set?

In the end, Carlin was using humor to make a point about freedom of speech and the often arbitrary lines drawn by society. It’s a call to look critically at the rules we take for granted. So next time you’re chatting with friends or watching a comedy special, remember the 399,993 words we can use freely and the seven that are boxed away. It’s a pretty wild ratio, and maybe it’ll remind you to question the norms and laugh a little at the absurdity of it all.