The Unwritten LAWS OF ENGINEERING by W. J. KING
Professor of Engineering University of California Los Angeles, California
ASME International 345 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017-2392 U.S.A.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

A little profanity goes a long way. Engineering is essentially a gentleman’s profession, and it ill becomes a man to carry profanity to the point of becoming obnoxiously profane. Unfortunately, profanity is sometimes taken as a mark of rugged he-man virility, but any engineer with such an idea should realize that many a pimply, half-witted, adolescent street urchin will hopelessly outclass him in this respect. On the other hand, there is no reason why a man should be afraid to say “damn.” On appropriate occasions a good hearty burst of colorful profanity may be just a healthy expression of strong feelings. But there is never any occasion for the filthy variety of obscenity, and a really foul mouth will generally inspire nothing but contempt.

Stevo