Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are
about
to
repeat a rumour.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for
his
wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up
to
him
excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about
one
of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you
to
pass
a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triplefilter?" "That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you
talk to
me
about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to
say.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what
you
are
about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true
or
not.
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what
you
are
about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary ..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about
him,
even
though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued." You
may
still
pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter
of
Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to
be
useful
to me?"

"No, not really ..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither
True nor
Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in
such
high
esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was shagging his
wife.