There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbors will say.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Talking things over has its place in an organization (but) so-called conferences are being grossly overdone. One executive stops at the desk of another to tell him, perhaps, about the wonderful score he made at golf on Saturday afternoon. This chin-chin immediately becomes a conference, and neither the office boy nor the telephone operator must disturb either gentleman. More idle gossip is indulged in at many business conferences these days than an old wives’ sewing circle would be guilty of.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
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
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
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
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 charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Nothing travels faster than light, with the possible exception of bad news, which follows its own rules.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
Gossip is what no one claims to like—but everyone enjoys.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
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
The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
All literature is gossip.
—Truman Capote (1924–84) American 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
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
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.
—Spanish Proverb
No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
When of a gossiping circle it was asked, What are they doing? The answer was, Swapping lies.
—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
Gossip is sometimes referred to as halitosis of the mind.
—Unknown
Rumor travels faster, but it don’t stay put as long as truth.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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 vice enjoyed vicariously
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
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
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
They come together like the Coroner’s Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadays saying things against one, behind one’s back, that are absolutely and entirely true.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Gossiping and lying go hand in hand.
—Common Proverb
He who hunts for flowers will finds flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Gossip has been well defined as putting two and two together, and making it five.
—Anonymous
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
She poured a little social sewage into his ears.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
At every word a reputation dies.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Live so that you wouldn
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
A malignant sore throat is a danger, a malignant throat not sore is worse.
—U.S. Proverb
Nobody’s interested in sweetness and light.
—Hedda Hopper (1885–1966) American Actress, Gossip Columnist
Speak no evil of the dead.
—Chilon of Sparta (c.556 BCE) Spartan Magistrate
If I maintain my silence about my secret it is my prisoner… if I let it slip from my tongue, I am its prisoner.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Don’t speak evil of someone if you don’t know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
For prying into any human affairs, non are equal to those whom it does not concern.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t witness with your mouth.
—Yiddish Proverb
Confidante. One entrusted by A with the secrets of B confided to herself by C.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone, you don’t.
—Earl Wilson (1907–87) American Broadway Gossip Columnist
Sight before hearsay.
—Danish Proverb
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
Gossip is only the lack of a worthy memory.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher