everywhere wander thousands of rumours,
falsehoods mingled with the truth, and confused reports
flit about. Some of these fill their idle ears with talk,
and others go and tell elsewhere what they have heard;
while the story grows in size, and each new teller
makes contribution to what he has heard. Here is
Credulity, here is heedless Error, unfounded Joy and
panic Fear; here sudden Sedition and unauthentic
Whisperings…

• Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 12

Remind you of any particular time in history? Like now.

(Thanks to Willard McCarty, who reads more widely than anyone else I know.)