Triple Filter Test

triplefiltertest

Socrates was well known for his wisdom. One day, the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who said excitedly, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything, apply the Triple Filter Test. 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 and ..."

"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, but you're not certain it's true. The last filter is 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, good, nor useful, why tell it to me at all?"

How Godly of Socrates to teach another about the impurity of gossip. How good we can be when we apply the Triple Filter Test to our own conversations.

-Adapted from legends of Socrates

Free At Last

I quit judging, fudging, procrastinating,
gossiping, belittling;
my personal pity party.

I forgive my partner, my relatives,
my friends, my workmates & boss;
myself.

I embrace kindness,
empathy, benevolence,
those who need me most;
You.