Right Speech

From the Abhayarājakumāra Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 58) (“Tathagata” is how the Buddha referred to himself):

[1] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial (or: not connected with the goal), unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them. [2] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them. [3] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them. [4] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them. [5] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them. [6] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has sympathy for living beings.”

This is the origin of the common wisdom around whether to say something: “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” to which the Buddha would add “Is it the right time to say it?” Even if something is true, helpful, and essential for someone to hear, if they are not in the right state of mind to hear and understand it, then saying it would do no good.