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 scrutinize the evidence closely.

Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“The Aims of Education” (1929)
    (Source)

Usually shortened to "No one gossips about other people's secret virtues."

 
Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 6-Nov-15
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Russell, Bertrand

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Feedback?