Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend’s friend has a friend; be discreet.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Gossip has been well defined as putting two and two together, and making it five.
—Anonymous
It’s an indulgence to sit in a room and discuss your beliefs as if they were a juicy piece of gossip.
—Lillian Hellman (1905–84) American Dramatist, Memoirist
Fire and sword are but slow engines of destruction in comparison with the babbler.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Revolutionary
No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Rumor travels faster, but it don’t stay put as long as truth.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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
There is no friendship that cares about an overheard secret.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbors will say.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Gossip is only the lack of a worthy memory.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Gossip is what no one claims to like—but everyone enjoys.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Of course we women gossip on occasion. But our appetite for it is not as avid as a man s. It is in the boys gyms, the college fraternity houses, the club locker rooms, the paneled offices of business that gossip reaches its luxuriant flower.
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Writer, Poet, Children’s Books Author
Live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.
—Spanish Proverb
With well doing you may put to silence foolish men.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
One’s own vanities and humiliations I find a delicious subject for conversation. Things said of me behind my back I don’t enjoy, and don’t listen to them.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
One eye witness is better than ten hear sayers.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
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 a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time; and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
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
Narrow-minded and ignorant persons talk about persons and not things; hence gossip is the bane and disgrace of so large a portion of society.
—Anonymous
Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Show me someone who never gossips, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t interested in people.
—Barbara Walters (1929–2022) American Broadcast Journalist
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
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t witness with your mouth.
—Yiddish Proverb
A malignant sore throat is a danger, a malignant throat not sore is worse.
—U.S. Proverb
Men have always detested women’s gossip because they suspect the truth: their measurements are being taken and compared.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
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