Certain persons are malicious solely through a necessity for talking. Their conversation, the chat of the drawing-room, gossip of the anteroom, is like those chimneys which consume wood rapidly; they need a great amount of combustibles; and their combustibles are furnished by their neighbors.
In Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," the author reflects on the nature of certain individuals who become malicious due to their insatiable need for conversation. These people, akin to a chimney that quickly burns through wood, draw upon the personal stories and gossip of others to fuel their discussions.
This commentary highlights how some individuals rely on the lives of their neighbors to sustain their social energy. Their incessant chatter often leads to harmful gossip, demonstrating how the urge to talk can overshadow the responsibility to be kind and considerate to those around them.
