If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.

Most regrettable speech fails one of three simple tests before it leaves your mouth. Something can be accurate and still pointless, or needed and delivered cruelly, or gentle and untrue, and the harm usually comes from letting one virtue excuse the absence of another. Passing all three at once is rare, which is partly why silence gets underrated.

Before your next difficult message or remark, run it quickly past accuracy, need and warmth. If it fails one, you do not always have to stay quiet, but you can usually rephrase it until it stops failing.