DON’T GOSSIP
Remember,
people who gossip with you will also gossip about you in your absence.
Gossiping
and lying are closely related. A gossip listens in haste and repeats at
leisure. A gossip never minds his own business because he has neither a mind
nor a business. A gossip is more concerned about what he overhears than what he
hears. Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves nothing unsaid.
Someone
said it well: “Small people talk about other people,
mediocre people talk about things, great people talk about ideas.”
Gossip
can lead to slander and defamation of character. People who listen to gossip
are as guilty as those who do the gossiping.
A
gossip usually gets caught in his own mouth trap. Gossip has no respect for
justice. It breaks hearts, it ruins lives, it is cunning and malicious. It
victimizes the helpless. Gossip is hard to track down because it has no face or
name. It tarnishes reputations, topples government, wrecks marriages, ruins
careers, makes the innocent cry, causes heartaches and sleepless nights. The
next time you indulge in gossip, ask yourself.- · Is it the truth?
- · Is it kind and gentle?
- · Is it necessary?
- · Am I spreading rumors?
- · Do I say positive things about others?
- · Do I enjoy and encourage others to spread rumors?
- · Does my conversation begin with, “Don’t tell anyone?”
- · Can I maintain confidentially?
Refrain
from indulging in gossip. Remember, small talk comes
out of big mouths.
