Josiah Gilbert Holland Quotes

Gossip is always a personal confession either of malice or imbecility.

The widespread interest in gossip is inspired, not by a love of knowledge but by malice: no one gossips about other people's secret virtues, but only about their secret vices. Accordingly most gossip is untrue, but care is taken not to verify it. Our neighbour's sins, like the consolations of religion, are so agreeable that we do not stop to scrutinise the evidence closely.

Malicious tongues spread their poison abroad and nothing here below is proof against them.

Gossip is the Devil's radio.

… poison tongues …

I read the rumors, and I know there is a cottage industry of meanness out there.

Nobody likes to feel like they are being torn apart behind their back.

Some people will always gossip.

The tongue of slander is too prompt with wanton malice to wound the stranger.

For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise . The scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive when you would suppose it to be dead.

On Rumor's tongue continual slanders ride.

Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.

Slander is poison to the soul.

Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters.

Don't indulge in gossip. ... People who throw mudballs always manage to end up getting a little on themselves.

Be deaf unto the suggestions of tale-bearers, calumniators, pick-thank or malevolent detractors, who, while quiet men sleep, sowing the tares of discord and division, distract the tranquillity of charity and all friendly society. These are the tongues that set the world on fire--cankerers of reputation, and, like that of Jonah's gourd, wither a good name in a single night.

Slander lives upon succession, For ever housed where it gets possession.

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.

Into the space of one little hour sins enough may be conjured up by evil tongues to blast the fame of a whole life of virtue.

Queen Mary had a way of interrupting tattle about elopements, duels, and play debts, by asking the tattlers, very quietly yet significantly, whether they had ever read her favorite sermon--Dr. Tillotson on Evil Speaking.

Let nobody speak mischief of anybody.

Quick-circulating slanders mirth afford; and reputation bleeds in every word.

No one loves to tell of scandal except to him who loves to hear it. Learn, then, to rebuke and check the detracting tongue by showing that you do not listen to it with pleasure.

I know what they said even if they would not say it to my face. People love to talk. They love to slander you if you have any substance.

To speak behind others' backs is the ventilator of the heart.