The 3 Tests -- Truth? Good? Useful?

 

 

One day Socrates 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 correct," Socrates continued.

 

The first test is Truth.

 

Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

 

"No," the man replied, "actually I just heard about it."

 

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..."

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?"