--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Calumny is a vice of curious…" description: "\"Calumny is a vice of curious constitution; trying to kill it keeps it alive; leave it to itself and it will die a natural death.\" — Thomas Paine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/thomas-paine-267_alive_calumny-is-a-vice-of-curious-constitutio_2728431.png" --- # Calumny is a vice of curious constitution; trying to kill… ![“Calumny is a vice of curious constitution; trying to kill it keeps it alive; leave it to itself and it will die a natural death.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/thomas-paine-267_alive_calumny-is-a-vice-of-curious-constitutio_2728431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/thomas-paine-267_alive_calumny-is-a-vice-of-curious-constitutio_2728431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/thomas-paine-267_alive_calumny-is-a-vice-of-curious-constitutio_2728431.png) > “Calumny is a vice of curious constitution; trying to kill it keeps it alive; leave it to itself and it will die a natural death.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spreading rumors sustains them; ignoring them lets them fade naturally. **In simple terms:** Gossip thrives on attention; silence kills it. Key Takeaway Avoid feeding gossip. Themes communication truth reputation Mood cautious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace rumors - online trolls - family gossip Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to confront a rumor? - What strategies stop gossip without ignoring real issues? A Different Perspective Silencing can also suppress legitimate concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Calumny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calumny/) [Calumny is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calumny-is/) [Calumny Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calumny-vice-2936411/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Curious Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious-constitution-2936412/) [Die Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-natural-815811/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-death/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [A feud should live a full and colorful life, and then it should die a natural death and be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/a-feud-should-live-a-full-and-colorful-life-and-then-it-should-die-a/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Dear gentlemen, let me die a natural death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-garth/dear-gentlemen-let-me-die-a-natural-death/) [Samuel Garth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-garth/) > [Relationships never Die a Natural Death. 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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/) > [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/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. 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Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Alive quotes > [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 feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. 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