--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tact is the unsaid part of what you think." description: "\"Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.\" — Henry Van Dyke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png" --- # Tact is the unsaid part of what you think. ![“Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.” quote by Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png) > “Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.” [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tact is the unspoken nuance behind thoughts, guiding respectful communication. **In simple terms:** Tact is what’s left unsaid. Key Takeaway Practice mindful listening and restraint. Themes communication respect subtlety Mood calm thoughtful Type practical reflective When to use this quote - negotiations - personal relationships - team meetings Key Concepts social etiquette psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you missed a cue? - How can silence improve dialogue? A Different Perspective Overthinking can hinder spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Tact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) [Tact Unsaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact-unsaid-2549814/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unsaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsaid/) [Unsaid Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsaid-think-2549815/) ## Related quotes > [Tact is the unsaid part of what you think; it's opposite, the unthought part of which you say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-think-it-s-opposite-the-unthought/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I don't have to tell you it goes without saying there are some things better left unsaid. I think that speaks for itself. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-don-t-have-to-tell-you-it-goes-without-saying-there-are-some-things/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“I feel too much, I leave too much unsaid, I think too much, I chew on words unspoken, jagged edges carve me up, gnashing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/i-feel-too-much-i-leave-too-much-unsaid-i-think-too-much-i-chew-on/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/remember-not-only-to-say-the-right-thing-in-the-right-place-but-far/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Any man with money to make the purchase may become a dog’s owner. But no man—spend he ever so much coin and food and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/any-man-with-money-to-make-the-purchase-may-become-a-dog-s-owner-but/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [I regard (parenting) as the hardest, most complicated, anxiety-ridden, sweat-and-blood-producing job in the world. Succeeding requires the ultimate in patience, common sense, commitment, humor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/i-regard-parenting-as-the-hardest-most-complicated-anxiety-ridden/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [To extraordinary powers of labor, both mental and physical, he unites that tact and judgement which are requisite to the successful direction of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/to-extraordinary-powers-of-labor-both-mental-and-physical-he-unites/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/) [Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/) > [Love is the tact of every good, The only warmth, the only peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/love-is-the-tact-of-every-good-the-only-warmth-the-only-peace/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [A Positive Mental Attitude is the right mental attitude. What is the right mental attitude? It is most often comprised of the "plus" characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-positive-mental-attitude-is-the-right-mental-attitude-what-is-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“A schoolmate of Matt Chandler's with the locker next to his: "I need to tell you about Jesus. When do you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/a-schoolmate-of-matt-chandler-s-with-the-locker-next-to-his-i-need-to/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [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/) > [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [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/) ## More by Henry Van Dyke > [I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack;The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-know-that-europe-s-wonderful-yet-something-seems-to-lack-the-past/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [The Bible does not profess to make men omniscient, but simply to tell them enough to make them happy and good, if they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/the-bible-does-not-profess-to-make-men-omniscient-but-simply-to-tell/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A little while the rose, And after that the thorn; An hour of dewy morn, And then the glamour goes. Ah, love in beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-little-while-the-rose-and-after-that-the-thorn-an-hour-of-dewy-morn/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-peace-that-depends-on-fear-is-nothing-but-a-suppressed-war/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Love is not about getting - but giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/love-is-not-about-getting-but-giving/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/favorite-people-favorite-places-favorite-memories-of-the-past-these/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Religion? Yes, I know it well; I've heard its prayers and creeds, And seen men put them all to shame with poor, half-hearted deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/religion-yes-i-know-it-well-i-ve-heard-its-prayers-and-creeds-and/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Jazz: Music invented for the torture of imbeciles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/jazz-music-invented-for-the-torture-of-imbeciles/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Lord, when my spirit shall return to thee, At the foot of a friendly tree let my body be buried, That this dust may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/lord-when-my-spirit-shall-return-to-thee-at-the-foot-of-a-friendly/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/gratitude-is-the-inward-feeling-of-kindness-received-thankfulness-is/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [In warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/in-warlike-pomp-with-banners-flowing-the-regiments-of-autumn-stood-i/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-better-thing-than-the-observance-of-christmas-day-and-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) [Explore all 165 Henry Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## More Tact quotes > [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/) > [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [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/) > [“A schoolmate of Matt Chandler's with the locker next to his: "I need to tell you about Jesus. When do you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/a-schoolmate-of-matt-chandler-s-with-the-locker-next-to-his-i-need-to/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [A Positive Mental Attitude is the right mental attitude. What is the right mental attitude? It is most often comprised of the "plus" characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-positive-mental-attitude-is-the-right-mental-attitude-what-is-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Love is the tact of every good, The only warmth, the only peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/love-is-the-tact-of-every-good-the-only-warmth-the-only-peace/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/) [Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/) > [To extraordinary powers of labor, both mental and physical, he unites that tact and judgement which are requisite to the successful direction of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/to-extraordinary-powers-of-labor-both-mental-and-physical-he-unites/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I regard (parenting) as the hardest, most complicated, anxiety-ridden, sweat-and-blood-producing job in the world. Succeeding requires the ultimate in patience, common sense, commitment, humor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/i-regard-parenting-as-the-hardest-most-complicated-anxiety-ridden/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [“Any man with money to make the purchase may become a dog’s owner. But no man—spend he ever so much coin and food and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/any-man-with-money-to-make-the-purchase-may-become-a-dog-s-owner-but/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [Tact is the rare ability to keep silent while two friends are arguing, and you know both of them are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-allen/tact-is-the-rare-ability-to-keep-silent-while-two-friends-are-arguing/) [Hugh Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-allen/) > [I was much affected by the internal troubles of the Punch family; I thought that with a little more tact on the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-gosse/i-was-much-affected-by-the-internal-troubles-of-the-punch-family-i/) [Edmund Gosse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-gosse/) > [There are very many characteristics which go into making a model civil servant. Prominent among them are probity, industry, good sense, good habits, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/there-are-very-many-characteristics-which-go-into-making-a-model/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [Being the bigger person in a situation requires humility and restraint, therefore it should go without saying that you are going to 'be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-vernon/being-the-bigger-person-in-a-situation-requires-humility-and/) [Aimee Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-vernon/) [Browse all 199 Tact quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Van Dyke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tact" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-van-dyke-2453_tact_tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-thin_1055521.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tact is the unsaid part of what you think.” — Henry Van Dyke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Van Dyke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Tact is the unsaid part of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/tact-is-the-unsaid-part-of-what-you-think/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```