I have this paragraph in my English textbook:
Loyalty is the third quality. Two friends must be loyal to each
other and they must know each other so well that there can be no
suspicions between them. We do not think much of people who readily
believe rumours and gossip about their friends. Those who are easily
influenced by rumours can never be good friends.
Source: English 11, via Speaking English
Looking up the meaning in Longman dictionary, I found 2 meanings of “thinking much of people” which are confusing to me:
1. to remember something
Ex: I can’t think of the name of the hotel we stayed in.
2. to behave in a way that shows that you want to treat other people well:
Ex: He’s always thinking of other people.
Source: Definition of “think” from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Which one is more relevant to the phrase I have written? Can I re-write that phrase like this?
We do not remember people who readily believe rumours and gossip about their friends.
Best Answer
To think much of someone is to think highly of them. To give them high regard or respect.
It is very often seen in the negative. I don't think much of him is used to refer to someone you dislike or disrespect for some reason.
I've never come across the expression being used in either of the senses that you quote in your question.
So your example; We don't think much of people who readily believe rumours indicates that such people are not highly regarded.