--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing…" description: "\"Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily propagated, nothing more readily credited, nothing more widely circulated.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg" --- # Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily… ![“Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily propagated, nothing more readily credited, nothing more widely circulated.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg) > “Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily propagated, nothing more readily credited, nothing more widely circulated.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rumors spread quickly, are easily believed, and travel far without verification. **In simple terms:** Gossip spreads fast and widely. Key Takeaway Question sources before sharing. Themes communication reputation truth Mood cautious critical Type advisory observational When to use this quote - political intrigue - social media - workplace gossip - family rumors Key Concepts propaganda social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a claim before repeating it? - What impact does rapid gossip have on trust? A Different Perspective Credibility suffers when facts are unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I never think it necessary to repeat calumnies; they are sparks, which, if you do not blow them, will go out of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-boerhaave/i-never-think-it-necessary-to-repeat-calumnies-they-are-sparks-which/) [Herman Boerhaave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-boerhaave/) > [Calumny is like the wasp which worries you, and which it is not best to try to get rid of unless you are sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/calumny-is-like-the-wasp-which-worries-you-and-which-it-is-not-best/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back- wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong Can tie the gall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-might-nor-greatness-in-mortality-can-censure-scape-back-wounding/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.-It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/i-am-beholden-to-calumny-that-she-hath-so-endeavored-to-belie-me-it/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Calumny is like counterfeit money; many people who would not coin it circulate it without qualms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-de-poitiers/calumny-is-like-counterfeit-money-many-people-who-would-not-coin-it/) [Diane de Poitiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-de-poitiers/) > [Neglected, calumny soon expires, show that you are hurt, and you give it the appearance of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/neglected-calumny-soon-expires-show-that-you-are-hurt-and-you-give-it/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-credulity-is-greatest-concerning-the-things-we-know-least-about-2/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are calumnies against which even innocence loses courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/there-are-calumnies-against-which-even-innocence-loses-courage/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-thou-dost-marry-i-ll-give-thee-this-plague-for-thy-dowry-be-thou/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Pessimism like calumny is easy to do, and attracts immediate attention. The gossiper and the writer may find this out soon enough, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/pessimism-like-calumny-is-easy-to-do-and-attracts-immediate-attention/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [The world will never be long without some good reason to hate the unhappy; their real faults are immediately detected; and if those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-world-will-never-be-long-without-some-good-reason-to-hate-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [His calumny is not only the greatest benefit a rogue can confer on us, but the only service he will perform for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/his-calumny-is-not-only-the-greatest-benefit-a-rogue-can-confer-on-us/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [It is often better not to see an insult than to avenge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-often-better-not-to-see-an-insult-than-to-avenge-it/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He has outsoared the shadow of our night; envy and calumny and hate and pain, and that unrest which men miscall delight, can touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/he-has-outsoared-the-shadow-of-our-night-envy-and-calumny-and-hate/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which filled my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the earth. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-charles/nothing-will-ever-equal-that-moment-of-joyous-excitement-which-filled-2/) [Jacques Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-charles/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Calumny quotes > [“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunning-in-his-plans-and/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [No matter how valuable you are and your ideas, fools will certainly play both of you down, so exclude yourselves from the inflammatory environs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-valuable-you-are-and-your-ideas-fools-will-certainly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny-fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/i-do-not-want-to-see-the-republican-party-ride-to-political-victory/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [“Majority of people prefer a good name to a bad name, but to me, anyone can call me anything, as long as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/majority-of-people-prefer-a-good-name-to-a-bad-name-but-to-me-anyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I never think it necessary to repeat calumnies; they are sparks, which, if you do not blow them, will go out of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-boerhaave/i-never-think-it-necessary-to-repeat-calumnies-they-are-sparks-which/) [Herman Boerhaave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-boerhaave/) > [Something of calumny always sticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/something-of-calumny-always-sticks/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-credulity-is-greatest-concerning-the-things-we-know-least-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He has outsoared the shadow of our night; envy and calumny and hate and pain, and that unrest which men miscall delight, can touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/he-has-outsoared-the-shadow-of-our-night-envy-and-calumny-and-hate/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [After upwards of two thousand years Epicurus has been exonerated from the reproach that the doctrines of his philosophy recommended the pleasures of sensuality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-benton-clulow/after-upwards-of-two-thousand-years-epicurus-has-been-exonerated-from/) [William Benton Clulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-benton-clulow/) > [“Saint John of the Ladder explains it thus: "The devil tempts us to commit sin; and when he does not succeed, he points scornfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-belet/saint-john-of-the-ladder-explains-it-thus-the-devil-tempts-us-to/) Fr. Belet > [Mobs may assemble, calumny may defame, but the work of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/mobs-may-assemble-calumny-may-defame-but-the-work-of-god-will-go/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man calumniated is doubly injured -- first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/a-man-calumniated-is-doubly-injured-first-by-him-who-utters-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood, and strives in every way to contradict every truth; devising various calumnies against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/christ-taught-us-truth-the-devil-teaches-us-falsehood-and-strives-in/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [But silence never shows itself to so great an advantage, as when it is made the reply to calumny and defamation, provided that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/but-silence-never-shows-itself-to-so-great-an-advantage-as-when-it-is/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is something mean in human nature that prefers to think evil, that gives a willing ear and a ready welcome to calumny, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-le-gallienne/there-is-something-mean-in-human-nature-that-prefers-to-think-evil/) [Richard Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-le-gallienne/) Browse all 94 Calumny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily propagated, nothing more readily credited, nothing more widely circulated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-is-more-easily-propagated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calumny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-is-more-easily-propagated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_calumny_nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-i_1843665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing is more easily propagated, nothing more readily credited, nothing…” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is so swift as calumny,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-is-more-easily-propagated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-so-swift-as-calumny-nothing-is-more-easily-propagated/#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 } } ] } ```