How awful to reflect that what people say of us is true!
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
We must set up a strong present tense against all rumors of wrath, past and to come.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
I lay it down as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
One eye witness is better than ten hear sayers.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
In private life I never knew anyone interfere with other people’s disputes but he heartily repented of it.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Never trust the teller, trust the tale.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Rumor grows as it goes.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.
—Lisa Kirk (1925–1990) American Stage, Film, Television Performer
Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
A cruel story runs on wheels, and every hand oils the wheels as they run.
—Ouida (Maria Louise Rame) (1839–1908) English Novelist
Gossip is what no one claims to like—but everyone enjoys.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Our globe discovers its bidden virtues, not only in heroes and arch-angels, but in gossips and nurses.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
Young people do not perceive at once that the giver of wounds is the enemy and the quoted tattle merely the arrow.
—Unknown
Nobody’s interested in sweetness and light.
—Hedda Hopper (1885–1966) American Actress, Gossip Columnist
Don’t waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
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
If we all said to people’s faces what we say behind one another’s backs, society would be impossible.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
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
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
I don’t care what is written about me so long as it isn’t true.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
A lie has no leg, but a scandal has wings.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Conversation is an exercise of the mind; gossip is merely an exercise of the tongue.
—Unknown
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
All literature is gossip.
—Truman Capote (1924–84) American Novelist
Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Sight before hearsay.
—Danish Proverb
Tale bearers are just as bad as tale makers.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
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
Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
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
Gossip, as usual, was one-third right and two-thirds wrong.
—Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) Canadian Novelist
There is no friendship that cares about an overheard secret.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
Your friend has a friend; don’t tell him.
—Chinese Proverb
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
Fire and sword are but slow engines of destruction in comparison with the babbler.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
An empty brain and a tattling tongue are very apt to go together; the most silly and trivial items of news or scandal fill the former and are retailed by the latter.
—Anonymous
Confidante. One entrusted by A with the secrets of B confided to herself by C.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The things most people want to know about are usually none of their business.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them; such persons covet secrets as a spendthrift covets money, for the purpose of circulation.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
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 Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Rumor travels faster, but it don’t stay put as long as truth.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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
For prying into any human affairs, non are equal to those whom it does not concern.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Female gossips are generally actuated by active ignorance.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer