Right speech is abstaining from lying from talebearing, from harsh language from vain talk. The man who obtain from lying, who always speaks the truth, is reliable, worthy of confidence. Neither for his own advantage, nor for the advantage of another, or for any advantage at all will he knowingly tell a lie.
The man who avoids talebearing, not repeating elsewhere what he has heard here so as to cause dissension, is one who is gladdened by concord and tries to spread concord who is gladdened by concord and tries to spread concord by what he says. He who avoids harsh speech uses such word as are gentle and courteous, words which are appealing to others. He who avoids vain talk is one who speaks in accordance with the facts and at a suitable time. He says what is useful and speaks in a reasoned manner about things which are beneficial.
Not to tell lies is the negative aspect. The positive aspect is not only to tell the truth but to speak on away that is soothing, kindly and comforting to the people who are listening.
If we must talk, all least might say something useful and helpful. Speech must be kindly, direct and forceful, not silly.
We should speak always of good things. It is not our business to speak of the evil deeds of other. In a family, if a husband or wife, or son or brother did something wrong. We should certainly feel that it would be wrong to advertise the misdeed of one whom we loved to many people who would not otherwise hear of it. We should speak with regard to others as we should wish to speak with regard to us.
Just one falsehood often requires the concoction of several others to hide it, leading to the creation of complications that bring trouble and unhappiness to oneself and others.
In speaking, some people allow themselves to fall into exaggeration and inaccuracy, and they make little things into enormous stories; surely that is not right speech they also have the idea that when one meets a friend one must keep talking all the time, or the friend will be hurt. With the idea of seeming smart, they keep up a stream of constant half- joking or sneering talk, and must always be showing everything in a ridiculous or amusing aspect. Certainly all that comes under the heading of idle words.
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