No smoke without fire

Cf. [Plautus Curculio 53] flamma fumo est proxima, the flame is right next to the smoke; late 13th-cent. Fr. nul feu est sens fumee ne fumee sens feu, no fire is without smoke, nor smoke without fire; [c 1375 J. Barbour Bruce (EETS) iv. 81] And thair may no man fire sa covir, [Bot] low or reyk [flame or smoke] sall it discovir.

Wher no fyr maad is may no smoke aryse.
[c 1422 T. Hoccleve Works (EETS) I. 134]

No smoke without fire.
[1592 G. Delamothe French Alphabet ii. 39]

There was no Smoak but some Fire: either he was dishonest, or indiscreet.
[1655 T. Fuller Church Hist. Britain ii. x.]

He considered that‥Emily Trevelyan had behaved badly. He constantly repeated‥the old adage, that there was no smoke without fire.
[1869 Trollope He knew He was Right II. lii.]

‘Chimneys!‥Who the deuce cares whether there's smoke from every chimney in the house.’ ‘I do. No smoke without fire.’
[1948 ‘M. Innes’ Night of Errors iv.]

‘I've been found not guilty, but mud sticks. Some people will say: “There's no smoke without fire.”’
[2002 Times 8 July 8]

Related to: public opinion; rumour

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.