--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rumour was the messenger Of defamation…" description: "\"Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.\" — Robert Pollok" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png" --- # Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that… ![“Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.” quote by Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png) > “Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.” [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defamation spreads quickly, making it hard to be the first to share a false story. **In simple terms:** Rumors travel fast, preventing early truth‑telling. Key Takeaway Beware of spreading unverified claims. Themes communication ethics truth Mood cautious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - courtroom gossip - social media - political propaganda - workplace rumors Key Concepts social dynamics information cascade Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a story before sharing? - What impact does early rumor control have? A Different Perspective Even fast rumors can be challenged with evidence and patience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defamation/) [Defamation Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defamation-swift-1116047/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Messenger Defamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messenger-defamation-1116046/) [Messengers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messengers/) [Rumor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumor/) [Rumour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumour/) [Rumour Messenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumour-messenger-1116045/) [Rumours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumours/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) ## Related quotes > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rumour is information distilled so finely that it can filter through anything. It does not need doors and windows -- sometimes it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/rumour-is-information-distilled-so-finely-that-it-can-filter-through-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“We reveal most about ourselves when we speak about others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/we-reveal-most-about-ourselves-when-we-speak-about-others/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [History is the distillation of rumour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/history-is-the-distillation-of-rumour/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I certainly like the rumour that I was the father of Elizabeth Hurley's baby. It made me think I could impregnate women in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-certainly-like-the-rumour-that-i-was-the-father-of-elizabeth-hurley/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [My voice is like a rumour. I'm not sure if it came out or not, or if it is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/my-voice-is-like-a-rumour-i-m-not-sure-if-it-came-out-or-not-or-if-it/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Rumour has a hundred mouths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verlaine/rumour-has-a-hundred-mouths/) [Paul Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verlaine/) > [Memory itself is an internal rumour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/memory-itself-is-an-internal-rumour/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [It has been suggested by some people in this country that I and my Government will be a 'soft touch' in the Community. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-has-been-suggested-by-some-people-in-this-country-that-i-and-my/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“Rumours are like sexually transmitted diseases, both are spread by whores.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/rumours-are-like-sexually-transmitted-diseases-both-are-spread-by/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [We've had a day of great drama and of humour too. The rumour mill is now taking over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-burnham/we-ve-had-a-day-of-great-drama-and-of-humour-too-the-rumour-mill-is/) [Andy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-burnham/) > [Rumour doth double, like the voice and echo, The numbers of the feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rumour-doth-double-like-the-voice-and-echo-the-numbers-of-the-feared/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There's always a bit of truth in each rumour, the trouble is finding out which bit. - Tayend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/there-s-always-a-bit-of-truth-in-each-rumour-the-trouble-is-finding/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures And of so easy and so plain a stop That the blunt monster with uncounted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rumour-is-a-pipe-blown-by-surmises-jealousies-conjectures-and-of-so/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For your popular rumour, unlike the rolling stone of the proverb, is one which gathers a deal of moss in its wanderings up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/for-your-popular-rumour-unlike-the-rolling-stone-of-the-proverb-is/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Robert Pollok > [Of all the phantoms fleeting in the mist Of time, though meagre all and ghostly thin; Most unsubstantial, unessential shade Was earthly fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/of-all-the-phantoms-fleeting-in-the-mist-of-time-though-meagre-all/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [With one hand he put A penny in the urn of poverty, And with the other took a shilling out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/with-one-hand-he-put-a-penny-in-the-urn-of-poverty-and-with-the-other/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Maternal love! thou word that sums all bliss, Gives and receives all bliss,-- fullest when most Thou givest! spring-head of all felicity, Deepest when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/maternal-love-thou-word-that-sums-all-bliss-gives-and-receives-all/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [He was the freeman whom the truth made free; Who first of all, the bands of Satan broke; Who broke the bands of sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/he-was-the-freeman-whom-the-truth-made-free-who-first-of-all-the/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Sometimes you have to let go of the one you love to find out if there is really something there. Sometimes you won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/sometimes-you-have-to-let-go-of-the-one-you-love-to-find-out-if-there-2/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Sin is dark and loves the dark, still hides from itself in gloom, and in the darkest hell is still itself the darkest hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/sin-is-dark-and-loves-the-dark-still-hides-from-itself-in-gloom-and/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft By man inflicted on his brother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/of-lunacy-innumerous-were-the-causes-humbled-pride-ambition/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [But the unfaithful priest, what tongue Enough, shall execrate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/but-the-unfaithful-priest-what-tongue-enough-shall-execrate/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Mercy stood in the cloud, with eye that wept Essential love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/mercy-stood-in-the-cloud-with-eye-that-wept-essential-love/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Enjoyment stops where indolence begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/enjoyment-stops-where-indolence-begins/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [The Book, this Holy Book, on every line, Mark'd with the seal of high divinity, On every leaf bedew'd with drops of love Divine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/the-book-this-holy-book-on-every-line-mark-d-with-the-seal-of-high/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Living jewels dropped unstained from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/living-jewels-dropped-unstained-from-heaven/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [All are friends in heaven, all faithful friends, And many friendships in the days of Time Begun, are lasting there and growing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/all-are-friends-in-heaven-all-faithful-friends-and-many-friendships/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [The sun rejoicing round the earth, announced Daily the wisdom, power and love of God. The moon awoke, and from her maiden face, Shedding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/the-sun-rejoicing-round-the-earth-announced-daily-the-wisdom-power/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Who born so poor, Of intellect so mean, as not to know What seem'd the best; and knowing not to do? As not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/who-born-so-poor-of-intellect-so-mean-as-not-to-know-what-seem-d-the/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) [Explore all 18 Robert Pollok quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) ## More Defamation quotes > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“Walk away from gossip and verbal defamation. Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/walk-away-from-gossip-and-verbal-defamation-speak-only-the-good-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“All that happens is as habitual and familiar as roses in spring and fruit in the summer. True too of disease, death, defamation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/all-that-happens-is-as-habitual-and-familiar-as-roses-in-spring-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [More people need to understand the games secular liberals play. Here's one rule-of-thumb: No matter how bad a story sounds - particularly if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/more-people-need-to-understand-the-games-secular-liberals-play-here-s/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [“Accusations are convictions in the public mind. You are guilty until proven innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coben/accusations-are-convictions-in-the-public-mind-you-are-guilty-until/) [Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coben/) > [Remember remain alert that you don't get too much attached to the accidental - and all is accidental except your consciousness. Except your awareness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/remember-remain-alert-that-you-don-t-get-too-much-attached-to-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [For the moral attitudes of a people that is supported by religion need always aim at preserving and promoting the sanity and vitality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/for-the-moral-attitudes-of-a-people-that-is-supported-by-religion/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The public is increasingly disgusted with a steady diet of defamation, and prepared to reward those who refrain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/the-public-is-increasingly-disgusted-with-a-steady-diet-of-defamation/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [How would your life be different if¦You walked away from gossip and verbal defamation? Let today be the day¦You speak only the good you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-walked-away-from-gossip-and/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [We regard an action of Contract as an action to prevent or compensate for a breach of a promise; an action of Tort as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jenks/we-regard-an-action-of-contract-as-an-action-to-prevent-or-compensate/) [Edward Jenks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jenks/) > [ “From 1992 to 1997, TAT \[Treating Abuse Today\] under my editorship published several articles by a number of respected professionals who seriously questioned the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/from-1992-to-1997-tat-treating-abuse-today-under-my-editorship/) [David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/) > [“We've authority to record and authority to use, publicise if it is done publicly or in public places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dipti-dhakul/we-ve-authority-to-record-and-authority-to-use-publicise-if-it-is/) [Dipti Dhakul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dipti-dhakul/) > [The time for letting the Christian bashing go on essentially unchallenged has come to an end... There is a great need for a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-james-kennedy/the-time-for-letting-the-christian-bashing-go-on-essentially/) [D. James Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-james-kennedy/) > [As a lawyer who has dealt in defamation, I know that someone's reputation has to be lowered in the eyes of right-thinking people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hunt/as-a-lawyer-who-has-dealt-in-defamation-i-know-that-someone-s/) [David Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hunt/) > [“The compensation question was where they had to deliberate the most. “Probably took three or four hours to just settle on a number,” Tom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-loudenberg/the-compensation-question-was-where-they-had-to-deliberate-the-most/) [Kelly Loudenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-loudenberg/) [Browse all 71 Defamation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defamation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Pollok" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-and-so-swift-that-none-could/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defamation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-and-so-swift-that-none-could/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/robert-pollok-29566_defamation_rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-a_1697464.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.” — Robert Pollok", "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": "Robert Pollok", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Rumour was the messenger Of defamation,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-and-so-swift-that-none-could/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-and-so-swift-that-none-could/#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 } } ] } ```