Once Plato came to his teacher “Socrates”,
And started saying.
“Your servant was standing in the market making false statements about you.”
Socrates smiled and asked, “What was he saying?”
Plato replied in an emotional tone, “I was talking about you!
Before he could speak, Socrates silenced him with a gesture of his hand.
And said, “Before you tell this thing, put it on the test of three, analyze it, and then decide whether you should tell it to me or not.”
Plato said, “My great teacher!” What is the criterion of three?
“Socrates said” Do you believe that what you are telling me is one hundred percent true?
” Plato immediately shook his head in denial.
Socrates laughed and said, “Then what will be the use of telling this to you and me?”
Plato looked silently into Socrates’ face.
“This was the first test,” said Socrates.
Now coming to the second criterion. “What you have started to tell me, is it a good thing?”
Plato answered with a shake of his head. “Yes! No, this is bad.
“Socrates smiled and said, “Do you think you should tell your teacher something bad?”
Plato again shook his head in denial.
Socrates said, “As if this does not meet the second criterion.
Plato remained silent..!
Socrates paused a little and said, “And the last test, tell me what you are going to tell me, is it beneficial for me?”
Plato shook his head in denial and said, “Dear teacher! This is not beneficial for you at all!
Socrates laughed
“If this is not beneficial to me, then what is the need to tell it?”
Plato was silent and had no answer. Socrates formulated these three principles of discourse thousands of years ago, and all his students followed them. Before the conversation, he used to test everything on the criterion of three..!
1. “Is this 100% correct?”
2. “Is this a good thing?
3. “Is this useful for the listener?”
If that thing met the criteria of three, then they would speak freely and if it did not meet any of the criteria or if one element was missing in it, then they would be silent!
