--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gossip is only meant to weaken your…" description: "\"“Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people are afraid of anything but the most common and familiar.”\" — Linda Lafferty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg" --- # Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people… ![“Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people are afraid of anything but the most common and familiar.” quote by Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg) > ““Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people are afraid of anything but the most common and familiar.”” [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gossip spreads to diminish others' confidence, exploiting fear of the unfamiliar. **In simple terms:** Gossip aims to weaken others by exploiting fear. Key Takeaway Resist participating in or amplifying gossip. Themes communication psychology social influence Mood reflective analytical Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - workplace - social circles - online communities Key Concepts fear familiarity power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why do people feel empowered by gossip? - How can we redirect gossip into constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Gossip can also serve as a bonding tool, not just harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) ## Related quotes > [Some people are afraid of getting committed, not because they can't believe someone... but because they can't forget the time they had believed someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-are-afraid-of-getting-committed-not-because-they-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who are afraid to fail can never experience the joys of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/people-who-are-afraid-to-fail-can-never-experience-the-joys-of-success/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) > [A lot of people are afraid to face themselves, especially when something goes wrong. But that's important, because if something happens within a relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/a-lot-of-people-are-afraid-to-face-themselves-especially-when/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/you-cannot-oppress-the-people-who-are-not-afraid-anymore/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Part of me is afraid to get close to people because I'm afraid that they're going to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/part-of-me-is-afraid-to-get-close-to-people-because-i-m-afraid-that/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [Atheism is a fairy story for people afraid of the Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/atheism-is-a-fairy-story-for-people-afraid-of-the-light/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [So many times, people are afraid to start something because of fear of failing. But it can be fabulous - because it leads you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/so-many-times-people-are-afraid-to-start-something-because-of-fear-of/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [People are afraid because I'm candid. They're always worried I'm going to get into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madden/people-are-afraid-because-i-m-candid-they-re-always-worried-i-m-going/) [Steve Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madden/) > [People are afraid to die, and even more afraid to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/people-are-afraid-to-die-and-even-more-afraid-to-live/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [The more people that are afraid when they see new creation, the happier I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-more-people-that-are-afraid-when-they-see-new-creation-the/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-want-people-to-be-afraid-of-the-women-i-dress/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [“I heard him call to the people not to be afraid, that the soldiers would not hurt them; then the troops opened fire from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-brown/i-heard-him-call-to-the-people-not-to-be-afraid-that-the-soldiers/) [Dee Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-brown/) > [When you leave good people afraid to speak on behalf of justice, however awkwardly or insensitively, those unafraid to speak will rise to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/when-you-leave-good-people-afraid-to-speak-on-behalf-of-justice/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [There are so many people afraid of a task. They get so overwhelmed by the obstacles in front of them that they shy away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/there-are-so-many-people-afraid-of-a-task-they-get-so-overwhelmed-by/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) ## More by Linda Lafferty > [“Synchronicity? The entire universe vibrates to synchronicity, if only we can hear the rich symphony. The first strains of music, created at our beginnings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/synchronicity-the-entire-universe-vibrates-to-synchronicity-if-only/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“The buildings were as real yet ethereal as the abandoned shell of a cicada, clinging to a tree branch, molded by the life it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/the-buildings-were-as-real-yet-ethereal-as-the-abandoned-shell-of-a/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“No, Father. You do not understand my determination. He shall not have me. No man shall have me without my consent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/no-father-you-do-not-understand-my-determination-he-shall-not-have-me/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Men who thirst for freedom will find it, even if they drink at a poisoned well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/men-who-thirst-for-freedom-will-find-it-even-if-they-drink-at-a/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“If you listen with your heart and pure soul, you will hear the music of the cosmos, in perfect harmony. It is only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/if-you-listen-with-your-heart-and-pure-soul-you-will-hear-the-music/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“My father says it is the peacemakers who take the biggest risks. He says any fool can start a war. It takes courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/my-father-says-it-is-the-peacemakers-who-take-the-biggest-risks-he/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“What good is it to be a mere woman?” cried Esma, throwing her head back on the embroidered silk cushion. “To be married and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/what-good-is-it-to-be-a-mere-woman-cried-esma-throwing-her-head-back/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Well, my sister, have some courage and heed your dreams, not your mother’s demands or what the gossips may say or expect you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/well-my-sister-have-some-courage-and-heed-your-dreams-not-your-mother/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Who knows only his own generation remains always a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/who-knows-only-his-own-generation-remains-always-a-child/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Synchronicity was a theory of Jung’s. It is the idea of two or more events that are apparently unrelated occurring together in a meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/synchronicity-was-a-theory-of-jung-s-it-is-the-idea-of-two-or-more/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“It is the face of rebellion and determination. It does not show age, terror, or ennui. It is frozen in time, in a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/it-is-the-face-of-rebellion-and-determination-it-does-not-show-age/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“The task is to give birth to the old in a new time. The soul of humanity is like the great wheel of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/the-task-is-to-give-birth-to-the-old-in-a-new-time-the-soul-of/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Redemption, he thought. Spring came no matter how dark and cruel the winter might be. Jakub”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/redemption-he-thought-spring-came-no-matter-how-dark-and-cruel-the/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“You may howl like dogs at the moon, but the moonlight will not change its color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/you-may-howl-like-dogs-at-the-moon-but-the-moonlight-will-not-change/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) > [“Redemption, he thought. Spring came no matter how dark and cruel the winter might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/redemption-he-thought-spring-came-no-matter-how-dark-and-cruel-the-2/) [Linda Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) [Explore all 27 Linda Lafferty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/) ## More Gossip quotes > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“She was the goddess of gossip and rumor, not the goddess of thoroughly fact-checked information. Some people, Principal Zeus included, didn't seem to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-holub-suzanne-williams/she-was-the-goddess-of-gossip-and-rumor-not-the-goddess-of-thoroughly/) Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [There is no friendship that cares about an overheard secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/there-is-no-friendship-that-cares-about-an-overheard-secret/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [My back is not a voicemail. Say it to my face bitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/my-back-is-not-a-voicemail-say-it-to-my-face-bitch/) Superman > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Destroy gossip by ignoring it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/destroy-gossip-by-ignoring-it/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [My mum, Olwen, was a bright and talkative woman who loved a gossip and a story and was given slightly to malapropisms. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-mum-olwen-was-a-bright-and-talkative-woman-who-loved-a-gossip-and/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I went straight from high school to 'Gossip Girl,' and both were very structured, scheduled environments, so I never had freedom to explore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-went-straight-from-high-school-to-gossip-girl-and-both-were-very/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Don't give me truth, just give me gossip And skeletons from people's closets, I wanna be normal And millions buy it, I am blinded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/don-t-give-me-truth-just-give-me-gossip-and-skeletons-from-people-s/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“Slander does to a soul what cancer does to a cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/slander-does-to-a-soul-what-cancer-does-to-a-cell/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Gossip is just drama, waiting to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/gossip-is-just-drama-waiting-to-start/) Author Name [Browse all 1,468 Gossip quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people are afraid of anything but the most common and familiar.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Linda Lafferty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powers-because-people-are-afraid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gossip" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powers-because-people-are-afraid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/linda-lafferty-22373_quote_gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powe_1539769.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Gossip is only meant to weaken your powers because people are afraid of anything but the most common and…” — Linda Lafferty", "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": "Linda Lafferty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lafferty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Gossip is only meant to weaken...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powers-because-people-are-afraid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lafferty/gossip-is-only-meant-to-weaken-your-powers-because-people-are-afraid/#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 } } ] } ```