Remove the tale-bearer and contention ceaseth.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

A person who carries inflammatory stories between others can prolong a quarrel. The saying suggests addressing that source of conflict, without promising that excluding one person resolves every dispute or justifies suppressing a legitimate concern.

What the words are saying

The tale-bearer is pictured moving stories between people in a way that feeds contention. Applied to a group, an unconfirmed or selectively repeated account may keep people reacting to one another without checking what actually happened. The proverb can encourage a change in the communication pattern rather than continued circulation of the story. Its ceaseth is too definite for a general rule: a real disagreement may remain after the messenger is no longer involved. A useful response checks evidence, lets the relevant people clarify their positions and distinguishes harmful gossip from a report that deserves attention. Removal alone is not a substitute for fair resolution.

Everyday example

After conflicting accounts of a family gathering circulate, the host checks the invitation with those involved instead of relying on a relative’s escalating retellings.

When to use it

Use it when repeated unconfirmed stories are making a disagreement harder to resolve.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.