Where no wood is, the fire goes out; so where there is no tale bearer, the strife ceaseth.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
One eye witness is better than ten hear sayers.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Nobody’s interested in sweetness and light.
—Hedda Hopper (1885–1966) American Actress, Gossip Columnist
As to people saying a few idle words about us, we must not mind that any more than the old church steeple minds the rooks cawing about it.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone, you don’t.
—Earl Wilson (1907–87) American Broadway Gossip Columnist
Count not him among your friends who will retail your privacies to the world.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
If you are told that such an one speaks ill of you, make no defense against what was said, but answer, “He surely knew not my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these only!”
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Live so that you wouldn
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
A lie has no leg, but a scandal has wings.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Everyone realizes that one can believe little of what people say about each other. But it is not so widely realized that even less can one trust what people say about themselves.
—Rebecca West (1892–1983) English Author, Journalist, Literary Critic
News-hunters have great leisure, with little thought; much petty ambition to be thought intelligent, without any other pretension than being able to communicate what they have just learned.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Gossip isn’t scandal and it’s not merely malicious. It’s chatter about the human race by lovers of the same. Gossip is the tool of the poet, the shop-talk of the scientist, and the consolation of the housewife, wit, tycoon and intellectual. It begins in the nursery and ends when speech is past.
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Gossip is vice enjoyed vicariously
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
There are two good rules which ought to be written on every heart; never to believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; and never to tell that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary, and that God is listening while you tell it.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
Female gossips are generally actuated by active ignorance.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The flying rumors gathered as they rolled, and all who told it added something new, and all who heard it made enlargement too; in every ear it spreads, on every tongue it grew.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend’s friend has a friend; be discreet.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Fire and sword are but slow engines of destruction in comparison with the babbler.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The objection of the scandalmonger is not that she tells of racy doings, but that she pretends to be indignant about them.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Language is the apparel in which your thoughts parade before the public. Never clothe them in vulgar or shoddy attire.
—George W. Crane (1901–95) American Psychologist, Physician
Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us.
—Unknown
How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Anyone who has obeyed nature by transmitting a piece of gossip experiences the explosive relief that accompanies the satisfying of a primary need.
—Primo Levi (1919–87) Italian Novelist, Poet, Chemist
Your friend has a friend; don’t tell him.
—Chinese Proverb