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About this quote

What does it mean?
Public servants should only speak when certain of the facts.
In plain terms
Do not speak publicly unless you are sure.
What can you take from it?
Verify facts before making public statements.

Where it applies

  • public speaking
  • reporting
  • official duties

Putting it to work

  • fact check
  • verify sources
  • speak carefully

Questions to consider

  • When is it okay to speak without full certainty?
  • How do you verify facts?

Another view

Sometimes quick communication is necessary despite uncertainty.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. Useful and useless must, like good and evil, generally go on together; and man must make his choice.

    Permalink to quote #92
  2. A votary of truth must exercise the greatest caution.

    Permalink to quote #94
  3. Newspaper press is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole country sides and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen ser…

    Permalink to quote #91

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