English Original
Grandpa Hodge was the most popular sage in the village. His philosophical way of speaking and acting earned him the revered title of "Grandpa Wisdom."
One day, a man hurried to Grandpa Wisdom and said, "Grandpa, I have a piece of news to tell you…"
"Wait a moment," Grandpa Hodge stroked his beard and interrupted. "Have you sifted the news you will tell me through three sieves?"
"Three sieves? Which three?" the man asked, puzzled.
"The first sieve is Truth," said Grandpa Hodge, narrowing his eyes. "Is the news you will tell me true?"
"I don't know. I overheard it on the street."
"Then let's use the second sieve," Grandpa Hodge continued. "If the news is not true, is it at least friendly?"
The man answered hesitantly, "No, just the opposite…"
Grandpa Hodge interrupted again, "Then we apply the third sieve. Is this news that excites you very important?"
"It is not so important," the man replied with embarrassment.
Grandpa Hodge patted the man's shoulder and said meaningfully, "Since the news is neither true, nor friendly, nor important, please do not tell me. Then it will trouble neither you nor me."
The man took the lesson to heart and never spread the overheard news again.
中文翻译
霍奇爷爷是村里最受欢迎的智者。他言谈举止充满哲理，因此被大家尊称为“智慧爷爷”。
一天，一个人匆匆跑到智慧爷爷面前说：“爷爷，我有个消息要告诉您……”
“等一下，”霍奇爷爷捋着胡子打断了他，“你要告诉我的消息，用三个筛子筛过了吗？”
“三个筛子？哪三个？”那人困惑地问。
“第一个筛子是真实，”霍奇爷爷眯着眼睛说，“你要告诉我的消息是真的吗？”
“我不知道……我是在街上偶然听到的。”
“那么我们用第二个筛子，”霍奇爷爷接着说，“如果这消息不真实，它至少是友善的吗？”
那人犹豫地回答：“不，恰恰相反……”
霍奇爷爷再次打断他：“那么我们再用第三个筛子。这个让你兴奋的消息非常重要吗？”
“并不是那么重要，”那人尴尬地回答。
霍奇爷爷拍了拍那人的肩膀，意味深长地说：“既然这消息既不真实，也不友善，更不重要，那就请不要告诉我了。这样，它就不会困扰你和我了。”
那人深受触动，从此再也没有传播那个道听途说的消息。