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I've heard these guidelines pushed in Buddhist forums too. Assumed it was a Buddhist thing. Probably invented several times by several people. Seems pretty simp

I've heard these guidelines pushed in Buddhist forums too. Assumed it was a Buddhist thing. Probably invented several times by several people. Seems pretty simple and straightforward. But ya, all the fine writing LeGuin did seems substantial enough.

asimovfan 3y ago
It is definitely Buddhist. Buddha says it in a sutta. "Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people. Which five? "It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will." — AN 5.198 btw he later on defines "beneficial" as something that is immediately applicable for the listener, which is just extra good in my opinion.