--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: tact is the ability to deal with people…" description: "\"“tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the proper words or responses to a delicate situati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg" --- # tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to… ![“tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the proper words or responses to a delicate situation.” quote by J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg) > ““tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the proper words or responses to a delicate situation.”” [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tact means handling interactions delicately, choosing words that prevent hurt and maintain harmony. **In simple terms:** Being sensitive in communication avoids offense. Key Takeaway Speak thoughtfully to preserve relationships. Themes communication empathy social skill Mood considerate professional Type advice reflective When to use this quote - team meetings - customer service - conflict resolution - family discussions Key Concepts emotional intelligence interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with sensitivity? - When might directness be more appropriate? A Different Perspective Tact can be misread as insincerity if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Tact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) ## 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: the ability to tell a man he's open-minded when he has a hole in his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-g-kernan/tact-the-ability-to-tell-a-man-he-s-open-minded-when-he-has-a-hole-in/) F G Kernan > [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/) > [“To be sensitively aware of thought, of feeling, of the world about you, of your office and of nature, is to explode from moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-krishnamurti/to-be-sensitively-aware-of-thought-of-feeling-of-the-world-about-you/) [J. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-krishnamurti/) > [I try and approach other music with sensitivity. And, if it's music I don't know, I try and work with other people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anoushka-shankar/i-try-and-approach-other-music-with-sensitivity-and-if-it-s-music-i/) [Anoushka Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anoushka-shankar/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [... 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 J Oswald Sanders > [“God will not cooperate with prayers of mere self-interest, or prayers that come from impure motives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/god-will-not-cooperate-with-prayers-of-mere-self-interest-or-prayers/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Lazy and disorganized people never rise to true leadership. Many who aspire to leadership fail because they have never learned to follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/lazy-and-disorganized-people-never-rise-to-true-leadership-many-who/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“The young man of leadership caliber will work while others waste time, study while others snooze, pray while others daydream. Slothful habits are overcome,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/the-young-man-of-leadership-caliber-will-work-while-others-waste-time/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit. The Christian leader’s mind, emotions, will, and physical strength all become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/to-be-filled-with-the-spirit-is-to-be-controlled-by-the-spirit-the/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“A good test of the appropriateness of a joke is whether the humor controls us or we control it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/a-good-test-of-the-appropriateness-of-a-joke-is-whether-the-humor/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“He moved through life with measured steps, never hurried, though always surrounded by demands and crowds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/he-moved-through-life-with-measured-steps-never-hurried-though-always/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“The person who is impatient with weakness will be ineffective in his leadership.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/the-person-who-is-impatient-with-weakness-will-be-ineffective-in-his/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Indeed, if we read merely to stock our head with ideas, to feel superior to others, or to appear learned, then our reading is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/indeed-if-we-read-merely-to-stock-our-head-with-ideas-to-feel/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“When we lead by persuasion rather than command, patience is essential. Leaders rightly cultivate the art of persuasion that allows maximum individual decision making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/when-we-lead-by-persuasion-rather-than-command-patience-is-essential/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“The quality of a person’s leadership will be in part measured by time: its use and its passage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/the-quality-of-a-person-s-leadership-will-be-in-part-measured-by-time/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Paul admitted to knowing fear, but it never stopped him. “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling,” he reported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/paul-admitted-to-knowing-fear-but-it-never-stopped-him-i-came-to-you/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Paul spoke of his failures and successes with an openness few of us are prepared to copy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/paul-spoke-of-his-failures-and-successes-with-an-openness-few-of-us/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Diplomacy is the ability to manage delicate situations, especially involving people from different cultures, and certainly from differing opinions. Leaders need to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/diplomacy-is-the-ability-to-manage-delicate-situations-especially/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Conscious of time, Jesus spent His time doing things that mattered. No time was wasted on things not vital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/conscious-of-time-jesus-spent-his-time-doing-things-that-mattered-no/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Time is precious, but we squander it thoughtlessly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/time-is-precious-but-we-squander-it-thoughtlessly/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) [Explore all 54 J Oswald Sanders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) ## 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 > [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 ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the proper words or responses to a delicate situation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J Oswald Sanders" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people-sensitively-to-avoid-giving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tact" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people-sensitively-to-avoid-giving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/j-oswald-sanders-2-12455_tact_tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people_557236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offense, to have a “feel” for the…” — J Oswald Sanders", "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": "J Oswald Sanders", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“tact is the ability to deal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people-sensitively-to-avoid-giving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/tact-is-the-ability-to-deal-with-people-sensitively-to-avoid-giving/#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 } } ] } ```