About the greatest virtue a friend can have, is to be able to hold her tongue; and through this, like all virtues carried to extremity, may grow into a fault, and do great harm, still, it never can do so much harm as that horrible laxity and profligacy of speech which is a the root of half the quarrels, cruelties, and injustices of the world.

A Woman's Thoughts about Women. By the Author of "John Halifax, Gentleman," etc. [i.e. D. M. Mulock, afterwards Craik]. (ed. 1858)