Socrates Triple Pass Filter

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher.

Acquaintance: Do you know what I just heard about your friend?
Socrates: Hold on a minute, Before telling me anything, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test.

Acquaintance: Triple filter?
Socrates: That's right, 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. 

Socrates: The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

Acquaintance: No, actually I just heard about it and...
Socrates: All right, 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?

Acquaintance: No, on the contrary... 

Socrates: So, 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? 
 
Acquaintance: No, not really. 
Socrates: Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?

Friends, use this TRIPLE PASS FILTER each time you hear loose talk about any of your near & dear friends.(Most of us need to go through this process)