Socrates and the Test of Three

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 Test of Three."
"Test of Three?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say.

"The first test 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 test, the test 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 though, because there is a third test - 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.

(Socrates was not a Muslim, but what he had practiced made him much better than most Muslims nowadays. A great many people find it so exhilarating bad mouthing others, gossiping on matters that have nothing to do with them, acting holier-than-thou. So before you say anything about anyone, please take this test of three.This is a reminder to myself too. May Allah bless everyone of us.