You challenge me to take proceedings against the town gossip which is so extraordinarily busy with my affairs at the moment.
Once upon a time Jean Paul met Goethe and they talked together of the disgraceful and malicious rumours which had from time to time been spread about each of them. Jean Paul said he would do nothing about that kind of gossip, or at least not till they said he stole silver spoons. Goethe said he would do nothing even then. Although, unfortunately, I cannot compare with a man like Goethe, I would follow him in opposing nothing but absolute contempt to this dirty town talk, which, the greater the heights of idiocy it attains, the sooner must collapse upon its own lack of foundation.
After what you told me yesterday it really seems to me that the limit must have been reached, and we may take it that, short of people spreading the news that I have shot or drowned myself, the end is in sight. I have been deeply moved by the discovery of the tireless interest which centres upon my insignificant person, particularly when this interest is expressed in the invention, exaggeration and dissemination of rumours which under certain circumstances might do me real harm.
If you think it would be any advantage to me to acquaint my friends with these reflections of mine, you can at your pleasure have these lines printed in the Anzeiger.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 122