So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

Report, that which no evil thing of any kind is more swift,
increases with travel and gains strength by read more

Report, that which no evil thing of any kind is more swift,
increases with travel and gains strength by its progress.
[Lat., Fama, malum quo non aliud velocius ullum,
Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo.]

Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not read more

Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted to them.

And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too.

And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too.

You do not know it but you are the talk of all the town.
[Lat., Fabula (nec sentis) tota read more

You do not know it but you are the talk of all the town.
[Lat., Fabula (nec sentis) tota jactaris in urba.]

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to
house; and not only idle, but tattlers read more

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to
house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies,
speaking things which they ought not.

Whoever keeps an open ear
For tattlers will be sure to hear
The trumpet of contention.

Whoever keeps an open ear
For tattlers will be sure to hear
The trumpet of contention.

That which is everybody's business is nobody's business.

That which is everybody's business is nobody's business.

Ah, well, the truth is always one thing, but in a way it's the other thing, the gossip, that counts. read more

Ah, well, the truth is always one thing, but in a way it's the other thing, the gossip, that counts. It shows where people's hearts lie.