Five factors of well-spoken speech.

Vācā sutta - Speech

Bhikkhus, speech endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken, blameless, and irreproachable to the wise. What are these five factors?

  1. It is spoken at the proper time,
  2. it is truthful,
  3. it is gentle,
  4. it is beneficial, and
  5. it is spoken with a mind of loving-kindness.

Indeed, bhikkhus, speech endowed with these five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken, blameless, and irreproachable to the wise.