Gossip is mischievous, light and easy to raise, but grievous to bear and hard to get rid of. No gossip ever dies away entirely, if many people voice it: it too is a kind of divinity.

φήμη γάρ τε κακὴ πέλεται, κούφη μὲν ἀεῖραι ῥεῖα μάλ᾽, ἀργαλέη δὲ φέρειν, χαλεπὴ δ᾽ ἀποθέσθαι. φήμη δ᾽ οὔτις πάμπαν ἀπόλλυται, ἥν τινα πολλοὶ λαοὶ φημίξωσι: θεός νύ τίς ἐστι καὶ αὐτή.

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Original Citation

Hesiod. Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι [Works and Days]. c. 700 BC, l. 761-764.

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Current Citation

Hesiod. "Works and Days." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 761-764.

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Illustrated Quote

A quote by Hesiod about effects of gossip: “Gossip is mischievous, light and easy to raise, but grievous to bear and hard…”

A quote by Hesiod about effects of gossip: “Gossip is mischievous, light and easy to raise, but grievous to bear and hard…”

A quote by Hesiod about effects of gossip: “Gossip is mischievous, light and easy to raise, but grievous to bear and hard…”