In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?” “Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple filter?”
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it 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 friend 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. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend 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?”
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Julie 11.01.08 at 12:17 pm
Heresay can be a dangerous and hurtful thing. It can put seeds of doubt in people’s minds, especially those who are closest to us at their most vulnerable times when they are unable to distinguish truth from lies. I wish someone very special to me who I lost through such circumstances had been mentally strong enough to view what she had heard as Socrates did. The Triple Filter is so apt and something we should all use more often. I know I will. Thanks for sharing that story with us and I’m sure a lot of people will relate to it.
Dianne 11.02.08 at 12:18 pm
LOL!!! How true!! I love it, going to use this daily. Thank You for the reminders,
Namaste!
sarvesh 11.02.08 at 12:22 pm
hi, excellent piece of information. Using this triple filter test will remove all the garbage from people’s minds. People will loveone another and make this world a place of bliss
Joseph William Stasaitis 11.03.08 at 12:19 pm
Thank you for the excellent reminder. I find it so easy to “forget” in the day to day process of life. Great wake-up call to reAwaken my understanding that there are no “ordinary” moments. Each thought or act in which I indulge takes place in the creative womb of Omniconsciousness. And because of one of those Universal Laws, I am guaranteed to experience a result sooner or later. Again, no accidents or coincidences, even when I CHOOSE to conveniently “forget”.
Peace & Love within the Light,
Joseph William
Fausat 11.04.08 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for this. I have always use the saying “if you dont have any good to ssy keep quite” This is even better to use in my daya to day thoughts. Many thanks for sharing.
AYESHA 11.04.08 at 4:08 pm
Thank you for this reminder. Martin Luther King, Jr. used the same criteria
when working within his group. When someone would come to him with information about another member he would tell them that if they could answer yes to three questions he would listen: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary? That cut down on a lot of mindless gossip and negativity between group members. Later in life when studying with my teachers I was taught the power of the spoken word and advised to monitor my own conversations, to purposely refrain from spreading gossip or to allow others to speak it to me. While it was easy to stop speaking on things I hadn’t researched to know if they were true or false, I found it challenging to stop people from telling me juicy little tidbits about someone else. One teacher said that I should simply change the subject when someone came to me with gossip and to minimize my
time on the telephone. Eventually, with practice it worked. This reminder
inspired me to go over my last conversations with people to make sure I haven’t lapsed into old and outworn habits. Thank You…Love & Light, Ayesha
FunkyBunke 11.05.08 at 5:46 pm
How much nicer the world would be if we could all remember to use this triple filter! Excellent information. I fall prey myself to malicious gossip at times and shame on me! I will consiously remind myself to think differently inthe future.
Aubrey Bouah 11.06.08 at 7:25 pm
So True,
It is very easy to just say what comes into one’s thoughts
even before thinking what (in most cases) harm it will effect on others.
A very, very good acid test. Yes. It is very easy to put out negative and bad thoughts out into the universe where it can be captured and used by those who thrive on things that are not so good.
Also good sayings from Ayesha.
I would like to put this out there. “It is not only what is uttered that negatively affects the universe, but also that which is thought. Remember it can be the same energy use dfor thought as for the spoken word. My thoughts, how does everyone think of this? Could we discuss this.
Thank you
Aubrey Bouah
Cindy 11.06.08 at 8:27 pm
Very good story. People get caught up everyday talking about one another. Creating negativity. It is a shame that is all some people know. It is time to spread the word of being positive and trust and believe. Truth, kindness, and necessary. Three words to live by.
Walk in Peace, Cindy
valeriejoan 11.06.08 at 10:38 pm
The greatest time saver since sliced bread. Just think of time wasted on gossip. The triple filter not only save me time in speaking, the time saved in listening will be expansive - in more ways than one. Love, Light & Laughter valeriejoan
Mike 11.07.08 at 2:11 am
Thanks ! Better than listening to trying not to and than trying to egnore it if it’s not good !
Good way to stop the spread of dis ease (disease ) !
Betty 11.07.08 at 4:45 pm
Thank You! I so love this story———–I will be sharing it many times, starting today.
james 11.08.08 at 5:02 pm
this was very good. Socrates has always been an inspiration to me. I have not heard that particular story before, but I make an attempt to live by it by not discussing anything to one person about another unless what ever I say I can say it to the person we are talking about.
Nicholas 11.08.08 at 9:10 pm
Such a gem and in essence so simple yet challenging to put into practice. At a time when communication within the media and society is often based on blame, recrimination, envy etc it is important to know that there are steps we can each take to clean up the airways. Many thanks and blessings.
Stephanie 11.09.08 at 1:34 am
I LOVE this. My Grandfather did that, but did not call it that, it was just the way he lived. He has passed on to another realm now, but he is still and always will be with me. Thank you so much for the wonderful memory of my Grandfather and sharing a wonderful and simple practice to help make the world a loving place.
Many Blessings
Rita 11.09.08 at 9:49 pm
This is true inspiration! To think positive is truth. I just found your website and I’m really enjoying all the insights you are sharing. Thank-you, Rita
Jean 11.10.08 at 4:33 am
I want to scrap this and put a link in my blog, is that ok?
I studied The Republic in college, being a poli sci major.
I almost forgot how much I loved it Thank you.
Steve 12.19.08 at 4:52 pm
My email address is not aol or one of the other servers so I am not able to forward this info other than by sending your emails which I received from you. Thank you so far for the info it is great.