Great minds discuss idea. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Roosevelt was quite clear in her saying, I think. She doesn't emphasize "Great mind discuss only idea" or "Only great mind discuss idea". It is not claiming any infallible law. I think this quote would have risen in her mind out of her observations, but that is often true isn't ? Also Look objectively at the various spheres of people you came across? The ones that gossip all the times, how many instances it triggered your insight? Candidly? Honestly? The ones I know, don't mostly.
Also It gives me a feel that, Roosevelt intention in saying "great mind" was to describe the state of intellect thoughts than a person.
People may ask whether the great minds doesn't discuss the events or people, Or People discussing events and people are having small mind. Yeah, everyone discusses all those at some point of their life, but the saying is clearly referring to the proclivities of said minds and not their only actions. Also the word "Discuss" connotes a deeper conversation than just small casual talk. Intelligent people will spend more of their time thinking about grand ideas than average minds. The average mind finds itself in thinking the worries of the past and the anxieties of the future.
So I would say, what you discuss is the indicative of the true scale of your opulent eruditeness. How would you fit your quality of discussions among the three mentioned categories above? This made me think, Is that why the genius and brilliant people in the history hated socializing. There is some truth in this, isn't?