Tact Quotes

• Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.

  Isaac Newton

  Positive, Wisdom, Art

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  Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Relationship, Uplifting

  Benjamin Franklin (2013). “The Art of Virtue: Ben Franklin's Formula for Successful Living”, p.1, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Tact is the ability to make a person see lightning without letting him feel the bolt.

  Orlando Aloysius Battista

  Lightning, Ability, Feels

  Orlando Aloysius Battista (1981). “Quotoons: a speaker's dictionary”, Perigee

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• Tact is rubbing out another's mistake instead of rubbing it in.

  Leo Buscaglia

  Mistake, Rubbing It

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• Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.

  Francis Bacon

  Inspiration, Speech, Eloquence

  Francis Bacon, William Rawley (1871). “A harmony of the essays, etc. of Francis Bacon”, p.21

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• Because there can be consequences for saying the first thing that pops into our heads, it is prudent to exercise tact.

  Jeanne Phillips

  Women, Exercise, Prudent

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• It is tact that is golden, not silence.

  Samuel Butler

  Silence, Golden, Programming

  Samuel Butler (2008). “The Note-books of Samuel Butler: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition”, p.43, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.

  Henry Van Dyke

  Thinking, Unsaid

  Henry Van Dyke (2007). “Camp-Fires and Guide-Posts”, p.37, Wildside Press LLC

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• Step with care and great tact. And remember life's a great balancing act.

  Dr. Seuss

  Inspirational, Positive, Places You Go

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• Without tact you can learn nothing. Tact teaches you when to be silent. Inquirers who are always questioning never learn anything.

  Benjamin Disraeli

  Silent, Questioning, Teach

  Benjamin Disraeli, Edmund Gosse, Robert Arnot (1904). “The Works of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield: Embracing Novels, Romances, Plays, Poems, Biography, Short Stories and Great Speeches”

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• Opinion! If every one had so little tact as to give their true opinion when it was asked this would be a miserable world.

  Edna Ferber

  Giving, Would Be, World

  Edna Ferber (2015). “Roast Beef, Medium: The Business Adventures of Emma McChesney”, p.128, Booklassic

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• Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.

  Harry S. Truman

  Men, Shine On, Shoes

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• You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

  Dr. Seuss

  Feet, Bird, Places You Go

  Theodor Seuss Geisel, “Oh, The Places You'll Go”

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• Tact does for life just what lubricating oil does for machinery.

  Laura Ingalls Wilder

  Oil, Doe, Machinery

  Laura Ingalls Wilder (2010). “Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder - Volume One: On Wisdom and Virtues”, p.33, Thomas Nelson Inc

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• A horse will never tire of a rider who possesses both tact and sensitivity because he will never be pushed beyond his possibilities.

  Nuno Oliveira

  Horse, Pushing, Equestrian

  "Reflections on Equestrian Art". Book by Nuno Oliveira, 1965.

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• Tact in audacity is knowing how far you can go without going too far.

  Jean Cocteau

  Knowing, Audacity, Courtesy

  "Le Coq et l'Arlequin". Essay by Jean Cocteau, 1918.

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• People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it requires skill to influence them; if you treat them with anger and spite, this is treating stubbornness with stubbornness.

  Zicheng Hong

  Skills, People, Taoism

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• Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Motivational, Leadership, Inspiration

  Martin D. Tullai, Abraham Lincoln (1998). “Speaking of Abraham Lincoln”

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• In the battle of existence, Talent is the punch; Tact is the clever footwork.

  Wilson Mizner

  Clever, Battle, Talent

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• The secret of man's success resides in his insight into the moods of people, and his tact in dealing with them.

  J. G. Holland

  Motivational, Men, People

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• There is something about conscious tact that is very irritating.

  Agatha Christie

  Conscious, Irritating

  agatha christie (1941). “n or m?”

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• Diplomacy is to do and say, the nastiest thing in the nicest way.

  Isaac Goldberg

  Fear, Way, Diplomats

  The Reflex, Oct. 1927

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• Women and foxes, being weak, are distinguished by superior tact.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Foxes, Weak, Distinguished

  Ambrose Bierce (2015). “A Cynic Looks at Life”, p.38, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• The original meaning of the word tact referred to the sense of touch (as in 'tactile'), and came to mean skill in dealing with persons or sensitive situations. Tact is defined as: 'intuitive perception, especially a quick and fine perception of what is fit and proper and right.' It alludes to one's ability to conduct delicate negotiations and personal matters in a way that recognizes mutual rights, and yet leads to a harmonious solution.

  J. Oswald Sanders

  Mean, Rights, Skills

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• Tact is the rare ability to keep silent while two friends are arguing, and you know both of them are wrong.

  Hugh Allen

  Friendship, Two Friends, Silence

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