Who brings a tale takes two away.

This saying is commonly labeled an Irish proverb and belongs to a wider Gaelic and Hiberno-English tradition of warning against gossip and tale-bearing in small, tightly knit communities. In such settings, reputations functioned as social currency, and repeating “tales” (reports about others) could quickly damage trust and harmony. The proverb’s compact, rhythmic form suggests oral circulation rather than a single authored origin. It is often invoked as a caution in domestic or neighborly disputes: the person who carries stories between parties not only spreads conflict but also loses credibility with both sides.

The proverb argues that gossip is self-defeating. The “tale-bearer” may think they gain influence by possessing information, but in practice they “take two away”: they forfeit the goodwill of both the person spoken about and the person they speak to. It also implies that repeating a story changes one’s role from observer to participant—once you transmit the tale, you share responsibility for its consequences. The line functions as a social ethic: keep confidences, resist triangulating conflicts, and recognize that trust is easier to lose than to regain.

Who brings a tale carries two away.
He that brings a tale takes two away.
Who brings a tale takes away two.