Three Rules for Gossips

One day a fellow citizen came to Socrates and said, “Listen, Socrates, I must tell you that one of your friends…” “Just a monent,” cut in Socrates. “Have you sifted what you want to say through the three SIEVES?”

“Three SIEVES? What are they? asked the citizen. “Yes, three SIEVES! The first one is TRUTH. Have you checked if what you want to tell me is TRUE?” “Well.” replied the citizen, I only heard it! What is the second SIEVE?” “The second SIEVE,” said Socrates, “is GOODNESS. What you want to tell me , even if not checked, is at least something GOOD. Is it? The citizen stammered “No… not really.. It is just the opposite!”

“Ah,” sighed Socrates, “then let us try the third SIEVE’ is it NECESSARY that thou should tell me what happened?” “To tell the truth,” confessed the citizen, “it is not really necessary.” “Then,” smiled Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither TRUE, nor GOOD, nor NECESSARY, forget it, and we shall not dwell on it!”

Socrates wisdom is relevant to all of us who enjoy gossiping about others! before we speak about anyone to anyone else, let us first use the THREE SIEVES: Is what we are going to speak TRUE? Is what we are going to speak GOOD? Is what we are going to speak NECESSARY? If the answer to these three questions is YES, no problem, speak! Otherwise, it is best that we shut our mouths!”