My sone, be war, and be noon auctour newe
Of tidynges, wheither they been false or trewe.
Whereso thou come, amonges hye or lowe,
Kepe wel thy tonge and thenk upon the crowe.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Manciple’s Tale. The Manciple concludes his tale with his mother’s warning not to be the author of new tidings, whether they be false or true. But hold well your tongue and think about the crow, she told him – referring to the telltale crow.