Quotes about Tact

Benjamin Franklin, tactless in his youth, became so diplomatic, so adroit at handling people, that he was made American Ambassador to France. The secret of his success? "I will speak ill of no man," he said, " … and speak all the good I know of everybody.

Remember what Lincoln said: 'A drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.

I am convinced now that nothing good is accomplished and a lot of damage can be done if you tell a person straight out that he or she is wrong. You only succeed in stripping that person of self-dignity and making yourself an unwelcome part of any discussion.

In other words, don't argue with your customer or your spouse or your adversary. Don't tell them they are wrong, don't get them stirred up. Use a little diplomacy.

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

An ambassador seeks to speak the right thing in the best way.

Details are always vulgar

The Chinese have a proverb pregnant with the age-old wisdom of the Orient: 'He who treads softly goes far.

Misunderstanding is never ended by an argument but by tact, diplomacy, conciliation and a sympathetic desire to see the other person's viewpoint.

Seja mais sábio do que os outros se puder, mas não avise a ninguém.

En otras palabras: no hay que discutir con el cliente o con el cónyuge o con el adversario. No le diga que se equivoca, no lo haga enojar; utilice un poco de tacto, de diplomacia.

PRINCIPLE 5 Let the other person save face.