Who said “Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse…”?

Verified

George Eliot. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceDaniel Deronda (1876)

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“Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.”
VerifiedDaniel Deronda (1876) · evidenceGossip
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Daniel Deronda (1876).

APA

Eliot, G. (n.d.). Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4961-gossip-is-a-sort-of-smoke-that-comes/

MLA

Eliot, George. “Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4961-gossip-is-a-sort-of-smoke-that-comes/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Eliot, George. “Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4961-gossip-is-a-sort-of-smoke-that-comes/.