--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never believe anything bad about anybody…" description: "\"“Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png" --- # Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you… ![“Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary - and remember that God is listening while you tell it.” quote by Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png) > ““Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary - and remember that God is listening while you tell it.”” [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speak only truthfully and only when necessary, remembering a higher moral witness. **In simple terms:** Speak truth, only when needed. Key Takeaway Be mindful of words and their impact. Themes integrity communication ethics spirituality Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - social media - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts truthfulness responsibility conscience Questions to Reflect On - When should you stay silent? - How does belief in a higher witness shape honesty? A Different Perspective Fear of offending may suppress honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God Is Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-is-listening/) ## Related quotes > [There are two good rules which ought to be written on every heart - never to believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-are-two-good-rules-which-ought-to-be-written-on-every-heart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Communication with God is vital to a vibrant relationship with him. We will never really know God in an intimate, personal relationship if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/communication-with-god-is-vital-to-a-vibrant-relationship-with-him-we/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [I don't understand why people wait for 11:11 when God is listening 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-understand-why-people-wait-for-11-11-when-god-is-listening-24/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obeying God is listening to God, having an open heart to follow the path that God points out to us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/obeying-god-is-listening-to-god-having-an-open-heart-to-follow-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“I'm begging for forgiveness, everything I've done, If God is listening, He knows I'm not the only one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/i-m-begging-for-forgiveness-everything-i-ve-done-if-god-is-listening/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) > [“For those who want to pray for me to "find God," please don't waste your prayers. If you really think God is listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/for-those-who-want-to-pray-for-me-to-find-god-please-don-t-waste-your/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Our voices matter. God is listening to hear your voice. Your voice sounds different than all 8 billion other citizens in the world. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-e-jackson/our-voices-matter-god-is-listening-to-hear-your-voice-your-voice/) Sandra E. Jackson > [“Faith is about trust in something deeper. Maybe I have given you the wrong impression when I pray to the Saints, but it always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-soaje/faith-is-about-trust-in-something-deeper-maybe-i-have-given-you-the/) Olga Soaje > [“Sometimes belief is the reason for liberation; other times, our own conviction prevents our escape. 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Old seeds we planted (and perhaps forgot about) are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/at-any-moment-of-the-day-some-desire-is-in-the-process-of-coming-true/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“there is a vast difference between talking about God and listening to a God who talks to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bevere/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-talking-about-god-and-listening-to/) [Lisa Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bevere/) > [“First off, don’t swear to God around me. He’s not listening when I’m in the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/first-off-don-t-swear-to-god-around-me-he-s-not-listening-when-i-m-in/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More by Henry Van Dyke > [I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack;The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-know-that-europe-s-wonderful-yet-something-seems-to-lack-the-past/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [The Bible does not profess to make men omniscient, but simply to tell them enough to make them happy and good, if they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/the-bible-does-not-profess-to-make-men-omniscient-but-simply-to-tell/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A little while the rose, And after that the thorn; An hour of dewy morn, And then the glamour goes. Ah, love in beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-little-while-the-rose-and-after-that-the-thorn-an-hour-of-dewy-morn/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-peace-that-depends-on-fear-is-nothing-but-a-suppressed-war/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Love is not about getting - but giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/love-is-not-about-getting-but-giving/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/favorite-people-favorite-places-favorite-memories-of-the-past-these/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Religion? Yes, I know it well; I've heard its prayers and creeds, And seen men put them all to shame with poor, half-hearted deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/religion-yes-i-know-it-well-i-ve-heard-its-prayers-and-creeds-and/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Jazz: Music invented for the torture of imbeciles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/jazz-music-invented-for-the-torture-of-imbeciles/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Lord, when my spirit shall return to thee, At the foot of a friendly tree let my body be buried, That this dust may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/lord-when-my-spirit-shall-return-to-thee-at-the-foot-of-a-friendly/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/gratitude-is-the-inward-feeling-of-kindness-received-thankfulness-is/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [In warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/in-warlike-pomp-with-banners-flowing-the-regiments-of-autumn-stood-i/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-better-thing-than-the-observance-of-christmas-day-and-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) [Explore all 165 Henry Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary - and remember that God is listening while you tell it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Van Dyke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody-unless-you-positively-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody-unless-you-positively-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/henry-van-dyke-2453_believe_never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody_2489659.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that…” — Henry Van Dyke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Van Dyke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Never believe anything bad about anybody...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody-unless-you-positively-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/never-believe-anything-bad-about-anybody-unless-you-positively-know/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```