Gossip is the most deadly microbe. It has neither legs nor wings. It is composed entirely of tales, and most of them have stings. So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. If you don't say it, they can't repeat it.
Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers.
One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends. Wave them in the air. Then come back. The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi's chambers.