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[KENNETH567 at aol.com]

As true today as it was then……….. 

 
Keep this in mind the  next time you are about to repeat a rumour or spread 
gossip. 

In ancient  Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his 
wisdom.

One day  an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do 
you know what I  just heard about Diogenes?"

"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."  
'Triple  filter?" asked the acquaintance.

"That's right," Socrates continued,  "Before you talk to me about Diogenes 
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 Diogenes something good?"

"No, on the  contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something  about Diogenes 
that may be bad, 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 Diogenes 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 or anyone at  all?"  
The man was  bewildered and ashamed. This is an example of why Socrates was 
a great  philosopher and held in such high esteem.  
It also explains why  Socrates never found out that Diogenes was knocking 
off his wife.  




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