Turn a deaf ear to gossip

From The Emperor's Handbook by Marcus Aurelius.  A modern translation.  

1. I am indebted to my grandfather Verus for his good disposition and sweet temper. 

2. From my father’s reputation and my memory of him, I learned modesty and manliness. 

3. From my mother I learned to fear God and to be generous, to refuse not only to do evil but to think it, and a simplicity of life far-removed from the habits of the rich. 

4. Thanks to my great-grandfather, I didn’t have to waste my time in the public schools but had good tutors at home instead and learned that one cannot spend too much money on such things. 

5. My tutor taught me not to take sides in circus contests (Green or Blue, Light-Shield or Heavy), to love hard work, to limit my desires, to rely on myself, to keep my nose out of other people’s affairs, and to turn a deaf ear to gossip.

Turn a deaf ear to gossip!  When all our news seems to be narrative, spin and propaganda, that seems especially pertinent.  Half the news headlines seems to be gossip about the latest outrage which has caught the fancy of those in the faculty lounge.