Socrates

dak

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was known for his wisdom.

One day an acquaintance ran up to him and said,

"Socrates, do you know what I 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 correct," Socrates continued.

"Before you talk to me about my student let's 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 replied, "I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. " 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, because there is a third test, the
test of Usefulness.

Is what you want to tell me about my student 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 and said no more.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high
esteem.

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Plato was banging his
wife.