--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tact: the ability to tell a man he's…" description: "\"Tact: the ability to tell a man he's open-minded when he has a hole in his head.\" — F G Kernan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/f-g-kernan-237020_humor_tact-the-ability-to-tell-a-man-he-s-open_2313149.jpg" --- # Tact: the ability to tell a man he's open-minded when he… ![“Tact: the ability to tell a man he's open-minded when he has a hole in his head.” quote by F G Kernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/f-g-kernan-237020_humor_tact-the-ability-to-tell-a-man-he-s-open_2313149.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/f-g-kernan-237020_humor_tact-the-ability-to-tell-a-man-he-s-open_2313149.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/f-g-kernan-237020_humor_tact-the-ability-to-tell-a-man-he-s-open_2313149.jpg) > “Tact: the ability to tell a man he's open-minded when he has a hole in his head.” [F G Kernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-g-kernan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humorously defines tact as praising openness despite evident lack of insight, highlighting social irony. **In simple terms:** Tact can be ironic praise. Key Takeaway Use humor to expose pretensions. Themes humor social critique irony Mood witty sarcastic Type satire humorous When to use this quote - office banter - political satire - social media memes Key Concepts satirical commentary communication skills Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to use ironic praise? - How does humor reveal truth? A Different Perspective May offend sensitive listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Minded Hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minded-hole-5501355/) [Open minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-minded/) [Tact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) [Tact Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact-ability-1266688/) [Tell Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-man/) ## Related quotes > [Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/tact-is-the-ability-to-step-on-a-man-s-toes-without-messing-up-the/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tact-is-the-ability-to-describe-others-as-they-see-themselves/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tact is the ability to make a person see lightning without letting him feel the bolt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-aloysius-battista/tact-is-the-ability-to-make-a-person-see-lightning-without-letting/) [Orlando Aloysius Battista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-aloysius-battista/) > [“Tact is the ability to formulate your thoughts, carefully choose your words and effectively communicate them without offending anyone. This is the most difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/tact-is-the-ability-to-formulate-your-thoughts-carefully-choose-your/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [“Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/tact-is-the-ability-to-tell-someone-to-go-to-hell-in-such-a-way-that/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the proper words or responses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people-sensitively-to-avoid-giving/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“It had taken skill, tact, an ability to choose friends well, and a great deal of luck”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/it-had-taken-skill-tact-an-ability-to-choose-friends-well-and-a-great/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [If you use tact you can say anything, then make it funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/if-you-use-tact-you-can-say-anything-then-make-it-funny/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“Amazing, I thought nobody could tell that man what to do." -Foalan to Bridei Talking about Broichan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/amazing-i-thought-nobody-could-tell-that-man-what-to-do-foalan-to/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [What is right or duty without power ? 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