"They [who is they?] say that silence is a fine jewel for a woman, but it is very little worn. Is it so? Is it true that a woman only conceals what she does not know?Are women’s tongues like lambs’ tails, always wagging? They say foxes are all tail, and women all tongue. Is this false or not?"
"What a pity that there is not a tax upon words: what an income would come from it; but, alas, talking pays no toll! And if lies paid double, the government might pay off the national debt; but who could collect the money?"
"Silence seldom makes mischief; but talking is a plague to the parish. Silence is wisdom. By this rule, wise men and wise women are scarce. Still waters are the deepest; but the shallowest brooks brawl the most; this shows how plentiful fools must be. An open mouth shows an empty head."
"Gossips of both genders, give up the shameful trade of talebearing; don’t be the Devil’s bellows to blow up the fire of strife. Leave off setting people by the ears."
Link: http://www.chapellibrary.org/book/etonfg/evil-tongue-the
