In every community, workplace, family, or online space, there’s always one thing that spreads faster than truth: rumors. People talk about other people constantly. They whisper, assume, judge, and speculate all without having the full picture. But there’s an ancient proverb that still rings true today:
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
It’s a powerful reminder that arrogance especially the kind that makes us think we have the right to judge someone else often leads us down a dangerous path.
Why Do People Talk/Gossip?
People talk for many reasons. Some feel insecure and use gossip to make themselves feel better. Others thrive on drama. Some believe they are “just being honest” or “speaking facts,” when really, they’re projecting their own biases or pain. And then there are those who simply don’t know how to sit with silence, so they fill the void with stories even if those stories don’t belong to them.
But what many fail to understand is this:
Talking about someone without knowing their full story doesn’t just hurt them it reveals something broken in you.
The Cost of Assumptions
When you speak about people without facts, you’re not just spreading misinformation — you’re shaping how others see them. That’s a heavy responsibility. Your words might damage reputations, destroy relationships, or plant seeds of doubt in someone’s mind. And often, you’re forming opinions based on one moment, one decision, one version of events not the whole truth.
Think about it:
You see someone struggling financially and label them irresponsible. But do you know the weight of their burdens, or the doors that were never opened for them?
You see someone angry and call them bitter, but have you considered what kind of pain they might be carrying?
We only ever see a fraction of someone’s life. And yet, so many feel confident enough to judge the whole story based on one page.
Pride in Disguise
When people talk about others as if they know everything, that’s not wisdom it’s pride.
It’s pride that says, “I would’ve done better.”
It’s pride that claims, “They brought it on themselves.”
It’s pride that believes, “I know the truth,” when all you’ve heard is a rumor.
But pride is a fragile thing. It needs to be fed constantly. It thrives on comparison, superiority, and self-righteousness. And in the end, pride doesn’t just destroy others it destroys the one holding onto it. When we allow pride to speak louder than humility, we become blind to our own flaws and deaf to the truth.
The Power of Holding Your Tongue
There’s great strength in silence. Choosing not to speak on something you don’t fully understand is not weakness it’s maturity. It takes self-control to hold back when everyone else is rushing to have an opinion. It takes wisdom to recognize that your perspective may be incomplete. And it takes courage to admit, “I don’t know enough to speak on that.”
More than that, silence can be an act of compassion. You never know what someone is going through. You don’t know how close they are to breaking. Your silence might be the one thing that spares them one more burden.
Check Yourself First:
Before you talk about someone else, ask yourself:
Do I have the full story?
Is this my story to tell?
What’s motivating me to speak love, or pride?
If they were in the room, would I still say this?
Am I helping or harming with my words?
The answers will reveal more about you than about them.
Final Thoughts: Choose Compassion Over Criticism
Everyone is fighting battles you can’t see. Life is hard, and people are doing the best they can with what they’ve been given. So instead of adding to their burdens with careless words, choose compassion. Instead of speaking from pride, speak with humility or don’t speak at all.
Because pride doesn’t just come before destruction pride is destruction.
It destroys relationships. It destroys trust. And if you’re not careful, it will destroy your own integrity.
So be careful who you talk about, and be even more careful how you talk. Because the story you don’t know might be the one that explains it all
Thee Juju Aura 