3.4. Think Before You Speak! - My English Coursebook - Std 9 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board

Section 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ MSBSHSE मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार शालेय परीक्षेत येतो.

Section 2 — About the Subject / विषय परिचय

This chapter is an inspirational piece of prose that explores the profound impact of our spoken words. It draws upon the timeless wisdom of two historical figures: Benjamin Disraeli, a great British statesman, and Socrates, one of the wisest philosophers of the ancient world. The text serves as a moral and practical guide, teaching readers why human beings are biologically and philosophically designed to listen more and talk less. It emphasizes restraint, truthfulness, and kindness in daily communication.  

मराठी टीप: (या पाठात ब्रिटिश मुत्सद्दी बेंजामिन इझरायली आणि प्राचीन ग्रीक तत्त्वज्ञ सॉक्रेटिस यांच्या विचारांतून 'बोलण्यापूर्वी विचार का करावा' याचे महत्त्व समजावून सांगितले आहे. आपले शब्द इतरांवर कसा परिणाम करतात, हे यातून शिकायला मिळते.)

Section 4 — Summary / सारांश

English Summary: The chapter begins with Benjamin Disraeli's observation that nature gave man two ears but only one mouth so that we listen more and talk less. It explains that a spoken word must cross two "fences"—the teeth and the lips—meaning we must think twice before speaking. To illustrate this, a story is told of a young man who hurt his friend with harsh words. His spiritual teacher asks him to tear a sheet of paper, throw the bits out the window into the wind, and then try to collect them. When the young man fails, the teacher explains that spoken words, like the scattered paper, can never be taken back. Finally, the chapter shares Socrates' advice to his disciples: before speaking, one must ask three questions. Is it true? Is it pleasant? Is it useful? Only if the answer to all three is "yes" should the words be spoken.  

मराठी सारांश:

माणसाने बोलण्यापेक्षा ऐकण्यावर जास्त भर द्यावा, कारण निसर्गाने आपल्याला दोन कान आणि एकच तोंड दिले आहे. तोंडातून शब्द बाहेर पडण्यापूर्वी त्याला दात आणि ओठ अशा दोन कुंपणांमधून जावे लागते, त्यामुळे आपण विचार करून बोलले पाहिजे. एका तरुण मुलाला त्याच्या गुरुजींनी वाऱ्यात उडवलेले कागदाचे तुकडे गोळा करायला लावून हेच शिकवले की, एकदा बोललेले वाईट शब्द परत घेता येत नाहीत. शेवटी, सॉक्रेटिसचा विचार मांडला आहे की बोलण्यापूर्वी आपण स्वतःला तीन प्रश्न विचारले पाहिजेत: ते सत्य आहे का? ते आनंददायी आहे का? आणि ते उपयुक्त आहे का?

Section 5 — Key Points / मुख्य मुद्दे

• POINT 1: Nature has endowed man with two ears (like open funnels) and one mouth, implying we should listen twice as much as we speak.  

  • मराठी: निसर्गाने आपल्याला दोन कान आणि एक तोंड दिले आहे, म्हणजेच आपण बोलण्यापेक्षा ऐकले जास्त पाहिजे.

• POINT 2: Words must pierce through two fences (rows of teeth and lips), so we must think at least twice before uttering them.  

  • मराठी: शब्दांना दात आणि ओठ या दोन कुंपणांमधून बाहेर पडावे लागते, म्हणून दोनदा विचार करून बोलावे.

• POINT 3: You are the master of your unspoken words, but once you speak them, you become their slave because you cannot take them back.  

  • मराठी: न बोललेले शब्द तुमच्या ताब्यात असतात, पण एकदा का शब्द ओठांतून बाहेर पडले की तुम्ही त्यांचे गुलाम बनता.

• POINT 4: Harsh words are like torn bits of paper scattered in the wind; gathering them back is impossible.  

  • मराठी: रागात बोललेले शब्द वाऱ्यात उडवलेल्या कागदाच्या तुकड्यांसारखे असतात, जे पुन्हा गोळा करता येत नाहीत.

• POINT 5: Socrates' three rules for speaking: The words must be true, pleasant, and useful.  

  • मराठी: सॉक्रेटिसच्या मते, आपण जे बोलतो ते सत्य, आनंददायी आणि दुसऱ्यांसाठी उपयुक्त असले पाहिजे.

Section 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

6B. Values / मूल्ये

• Restraint (संयम) — Learning to pause and think before speaking in anger, as advised by the spiritual teacher.  

• Truthfulness (सत्यता) — Avoiding the careless spreading of untruths by ensuring what we say is strictly verified (Socrates' first rule).  

• Empathy (सहानुभूती) — Ensuring our words do not hurt others with empty remarks, but rather bring comfort and usefulness.  

6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

Words are irreversible; therefore, we must exercise extreme caution, restraint, and empathy, ensuring our speech is true, pleasant, and useful before we utter a single word.

मराठी टीप: एकदा बोललेले शब्द परत घेता येत नाहीत. त्यामुळे रागाच्या भरात न बोलता, आपले शब्द खरे, चांगले आणि उपयुक्त असतील याची काळजी घेतली पाहिजे.

Section 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

Section 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न

Extract 1:

Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)  

1. The young man was happy because he spoke to his friend. — False  

2. The teacher asked the young man to write a letter of apology. — False  

3. The young man wrote down the harsh things he had said. — True  

4. The teacher instructed the young man to tear the paper into bits. — True

     

   मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. The phrase 'make amends' in the extract means: (a) make new friends (b) correct a mistake / make up for a wrong (c) make money (d) tear paper Answer: (b)  

2. What did the young man fear he had lost? (a) his money (b) his teacher's respect (c) his friendship (d) a blank paper Answer: (c)  

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Why did the young man approach his spiritual teacher? Answer: The young man approached his spiritual teacher because he had spoken very harsh and unkind words to his friend. He was deeply worried that his friend was hurt and that he had lost the friendship, so he wanted advice on how to fix his mistake ("make amends"). मराठी टीप: तरुणाने मित्राला रागात वाईट शब्द बोलले होते आणि त्यामुळे मैत्री तुटेल याची त्याला भीती होती. ही चूक कशी सुधारायची हे विचारण्यासाठी तो गुरुजींकडे गेला.  

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) What two tasks did the teacher give to the young man initially?

Answer: First, the teacher gave the young man a blank sheet of paper and a pen, asking him to write down all the harsh things he had said to his friend. After that was done, the teacher gave his second instruction: to tear that sheet of paper into as many tiny bits as possible and throw them out the window. मराठी टीप: गुरुजींनी त्याला आधी कोऱ्या कागदावर रागात बोललेले शब्द लिहायला सांगितले. त्यानंतर तो कागद फाडून त्याचे छोटे तुकडे खिडकीबाहेर फेकायला सांगितले.  

Extract 2:

Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)

1. Socrates influenced the lives of many youths for the worse. — False

2. Socrates told his disciples to speak continuously. — False

3. We should only speak if we get an affirmative answer to three questions. — True

4. The first question to ask is whether the statement is true. — True

   मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. The word 'counselled' in the extract means: (a) punished (b) advised (c) shouted at (d) followed Answer: (b)  

2. According to the extract, if we are not sure about the veracity (truth) of a statement, we should: (a) whisper it (b) say it quickly (c) not utter a word (d) write it down Answer: (c)  

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) What was Socrates' general advice to his disciples regarding speaking?

Answer: Socrates counselled his disciples to generally keep their mouths shut. He advised them that they should open their mouths to speak only when it is absolutely necessary to do so. मराठी टीप: सॉक्रेटिसने आपल्या शिष्यांना शक्यतो शांत राहण्याचा आणि अत्यंत आवश्यक असेल तेव्हाच बोलण्याचा सल्ला दिला.  

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why is the first question ("is it true?") so important according to the text?

Answer: The first question is crucial because it acts as a strict filter for honesty. The text warns that if we are not completely sure about the veracity (truthfulness) of what we are saying, we should remain silent. Otherwise, by uttering words carelessly, we accidentally become transmitters of untruth in society. मराठी टीप: आपण जे बोलतोय ते खरे आहे का, याची खात्री नसेल तर आपण गप्प राहावे. नाहीतर आपल्याकडून खोट्या गोष्टींचा प्रसार (transmitters of untruth) होऊ शकतो, म्हणून हा प्रश्न महत्त्वाचा आहे.  

Section 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे

Q1. According to Benjamin Disraeli, what biological evidence suggests we should speak less?

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli pointed out that nature has endowed man with two ears and only one mouth. Unlike the mouth, the ears are like funnels that remain open all the time with no doors to close them, suggesting we are biologically designed to listen twice as much as we speak. मराठी टीप: निसर्गाने माणसाला दोन कान आणि एकच तोंड दिले आहे. कान नेहमी उघडे असतात, यावरून आपण बोलण्यापेक्षा ऐकले जास्त पाहिजे हे सिद्ध होते.  

Q2. What are the two "fences" a word must pass through?

Answer: Before a word can be spoken, it must pierce through two physical walls or fences in our mouth. The first fence is the two rows of teeth, and the second fence is the two lips. This structure naturally forces us to pause and think at least twice before speaking. मराठी टीप: ओठांतून शब्द बाहेर पडण्यापूर्वी त्याला दात आणि ओठ अशा दोन 'कुंपणांमधून' (fences) जावे लागते.  

Q3. Explain the statement: "of the unspoken word you are a master, of the spoken word, you are a slave."

Answer: This wise remark means that as long as a thought remains unspoken in your mind, you can control, change, or erase it completely. However, once the word has left your lips, you can never get it back or undo its impact, making you a slave to its consequences.

मराठी टीप: जोपर्यंत तुम्ही बोलत नाही, तोपर्यंत तुमचे शब्दांवर नियंत्रण असते (master). पण एकदा बोलून गेल्यावर ते शब्द परत घेता येत नाहीत, आणि तुम्हाला त्याचे परिणाम भोगावे लागतात (slave).  

Q4. What is the second question of Socrates, and why should we avoid "vain statements"?

Answer: The second question is: "Is it pleasant?" We should avoid making empty remarks and vain statements in idleness because they often end up hurting other people's feelings. If words are not pleasant, it is better they remain unspoken. मराठी टीप: दुसरा प्रश्न 'ते आनंददायी आहे का?' हा आहे. रिकामटेकड्या वेळेत केलेले निरर्थक शब्द इतरांना दुखावू शकतात, म्हणून ते टाळावेत.  

Section 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे

Q1. Narrate the incident of the young man and his spiritual teacher. What important lesson about anger does it teach?

Answer: A young man, deeply regretting the harsh words he had spoken to his friend in anger, went to his spiritual teacher to ask how to make amends. The teacher told him to write all those harsh words on a paper, tear it into a hundred tiny bits, and throw them out the window into the wind. The bits were immediately scattered far and wide. The teacher then ordered the young man to go to the street and collect every single piece. After half an hour of exhausting effort, the young man returned empty-handed. The teacher used this powerful visual lesson to explain that spoken words are exactly like those scattered bits of paper. Once you speak them aloud in anger, it is impossible to take them back, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, we must learn to think deeply before we speak in anger.

मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: तरुणाने मित्राला रागात वाईट शब्द बोलले. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: गुरुजींनी त्याला शब्द कागदावर लिहून तो फाडून खिडकीबाहेर फेकायला लावला. नंतर ते तुकडे परत आणायला सांगितले, पण ते शक्य झाले नाही. 3. शेवट: यावरून गुरुजींनी शिकवले की रागात बोललेले शब्द वाऱ्यात उडवलेल्या कागदासारखे असतात, ते कधीच परत घेता येत नाहीत.  

Q2. Describe Socrates' three-step test for speaking. How can applying this test improve our daily communication?

Answer: Socrates, an ancient wise philosopher, believed that people should only speak when absolutely necessary. To determine this necessity, he gave his disciples a three-step test consisting of three questions. Before opening our mouths, we must ask: First, "Is it true?" We must verify the veracity of our statement to avoid becoming transmitters of untruth. Second, "Is it pleasant?" We must stop ourselves from making empty, vain remarks that could unnecessarily hurt others. Third, "Is it useful?" We must ensure our words benefit the listener, bring them comfort, or offer help. Applying this test in our daily communication would drastically reduce gossip, arguments, and misunderstandings. It would force us to filter out negativity and lies, ensuring that our conversations are always honest, kind, and productive.

मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: सॉक्रेटिसने बोलण्यापूर्वी ३ प्रश्न विचारण्याचा सल्ला दिला. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: १. ते खरे आहे का? (खोटेपणा टाळण्यासाठी), २. ते आनंददायी आहे का? (इतरांना न दुखावण्यासाठी), ३. ते उपयुक्त आहे का? (दुसऱ्यांचा फायदा होण्यासाठी). 3. शेवट: हे नियम पाळल्यास आपले रोजचे बोलणे सकारात्मक, खरे आणि इतरांसाठी मदत करणारे ठरेल.

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