Measure twice, cut once

For today’s post I just wanted to share this quotation I saw online by Dōgen, the founder of the Soto Zen sect in Japan:

Students, when you want to say something, think about it three times before you say it. Speak only if your words will benefit yourselves and others. Do not speak if it brings no benefit.

In today’s English, this is probably not unlike the phrase measure twice, cut once. Good advice in any case. These days I try to reflect more often on what I intend to say before I open my mouth. That way I don’t say something foolish or annoying to others. Not an easy task but the benefits are clearly worth it.