--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He gossips habitually; he lacks the…" description: "\"He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue.\" — Mark Twain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/mark-twain-22_common_he-gossips-habitually-he-lacks-the-commo_3017387.png" --- # He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep… ![“He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue.” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/mark-twain-22_common_he-gossips-habitually-he-lacks-the-commo_3017387.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/mark-twain-22_common_he-gossips-habitually-he-lacks-the-commo_3017387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/mark-twain-22_common_he-gossips-habitually-he-lacks-the-commo_3017387.png) > “He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue.” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gossip harms both speaker and listener; silence protects. **In simple terms:** Gossip damages, silence protects. Key Takeaway Choose silence over gossip. Themes communication gossip wisdom Mood wry didactic Type moral reflective When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - online forums Key Concepts social ethics self‑control interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is speaking up necessary? - How to balance honesty and discretion? A Different Perspective Silence can hide truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Gossips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossips/) [Gossips Habitually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossips-habitually-4866513/) [Habitually Lacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habitually-lacks-4866514/) [Man Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-tongue-612160/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind.!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-as/a-fool-s-mind-is-at-the-mercy-of-his-tongue-and-a-wise-man-s-tongue/) [Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib AS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-as/) > [Ten doors are opened if one door be shut: the finger is the interpreter of the dumb man's tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saib-tabrizi/ten-doors-are-opened-if-one-door-be-shut-the-finger-is-the/) [Saib Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saib-tabrizi/) > [Female gossips are generally actuated by active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/female-gossips-are-generally-actuated-by-active-ignorance/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Gossips are frogs, they drinke and talke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/gossips-are-frogs-they-drinke-and-talke/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Always remember that some people will gossip and talk about you because when they talk about themselves... no one cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-mhr/always-remember-that-some-people-will-gossip-and-talk-about-you/) [Jazz Mhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-mhr/) > [At early previews, the theater gossips are there, wishing you ill every night. They don't grant you any slack. Agents are in from Hollywood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stone/at-early-previews-the-theater-gossips-are-there-wishing-you-ill-every/) [Peter Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stone/) > [“You and your husband have, I think, been very fortunate to know so little, by experience, in your own case or in that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-and-your-husband-have-i-think-been-very-fortunate-to-know-so/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Who gossips so much around here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/who-gossips-so-much-around-here/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Too many individuals are like Shakespeare's definition of "echo,"--babbling gossips of the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/too-many-individuals-are-like-shakespeare-s-definition-of-echo/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Without self-discipline, your streams of grace become a flood of disgrace. 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