Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes

Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone you don't.

Tale-bearers are as bad as the tale-makers.

It is harder to kill a whisper than even a shouted calumny.

Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.

… poison tongues …

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

It is perfectly monstrous,' he said, at last, 'the way people go about nowadays saying things against one behind one's back that are absolutely and entirely true.

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.

The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.

Gossip is when you have a malice of intent or mindless, third-party conversation to someone about someone, something you haven't said to that someone.

Gossip is what you say about the objects of flattery when they aren't present.

On Rumor's tongue continual slanders ride.

Hating anything in the way of ill-natured gossip ourselves, we are always grateful to those who do it for us and do it well.

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

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.

Whoever recounts to you the faults of your neighbour will doubtless expose your defects to others.

Your tittle-tattlers, and those who listen to slander, by my good will should all be hanged - the former by their tongues, the latter by the ears.

Mary's mouth cost her nothing for she never opens it but at others' expense.

RUMOR, n. A favorite weapon of the assassins of character.

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.

Slander is the balm of malignity.

Gossip is the Devil's radio.

Gossip is poison.