To Be Taken With A Pinch Of Salt

Practically everything that people say should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Why? Because generally, whatever people say is just hearsay, rather than direct experience.

According to Pliny the Elder (AD24 – 79), a pinch of salt was taken as an antidote to poison, to lessen its effect. Thus, “to be taken with a pinch of salt” now means not to take things too seriously.

Is what people say ‘poison’? If it is based on desire (like), aversion (dislike), or ignorance (indifference), that is poison to the mind. The antidote is understanding how these poisons come about, and their true reality, which is wisdom. Wisdom is in the moment when we are alerted to the negative emotions.