The ancient Greek philosopher and teacher Socrates' was well loved and liked by all who knew him, especially for his immense intellect and sense of fairness.  One day as he was deep in thought under a large oak tree, he was rudely approached by a local village busy-body eager to tell him about Alcibiades, his most promising and dedicated pupil. 

Socrates, sensing something untoward about to roll of the old hag's tongue first asked her a few questions of his own.  He started off by saying: "Before you speak about my student, have you made sure that what you are about to tell me is absolutely true with no room for error or mistake  - and that it is in no way idle hearsay spoken by those who envy or dislike him for no good reason?"

A little taken aback by the question the old hag replied: "Well no, I've only just heard about this myself a few minutes ago and I'm not really…."

"Okay" said Socrates interrupting her before she had a chance to finish her sentence.  "You don't really know if there is a grain of truth in what you are about to tell me.  What about something good.  Is what you are about to tell me something good my student has done, or does it reflect kindly on him in some way?"

"No" replied the old hag emphatically and even more bewildered than she was at first.  "Quite the opposite, really!"

"Ah hah" said Socrates' not in the slightest bit surprised.  "Well then…" he continued, "Is what you are about to reveal going to be useful to me in some way and will my young student be glad that you saw fit to share this information with me?"

Baffled and bewildered by his line of questioning the old hag replied: "Well no, not really.  I don't imagine for one second that this information would prove useful to you personally, or that Alcibiades would be happy that I shared it with you."

Smiling Socrates looked at her and said: "Well then, why would you even contemplate telling me something bad about my most promising student when you're not even sure if it's true, know it to be of no use to me whatsoever and are sure he would not like you repeating it?

Shamed the old hag left, most likely to speak ill of Socrates' as well as his student.  For in reality; those who gossip most - don't actually care what what damage their words may cause the people they speak badly about. 

Hopefully though, we have the good sense to speak only the truth about other people.  Like my old grandmother used to say when I was a child: "If you have nothing good to say about someone; then say nothing at all!"


© www.sacred-space.nl