--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The use of tact is always needful but it…" description: "\"“The use of tact is always needful but it is especially necessary when speaking a truth that may strike a sensitive nerve in another.”\" — Robert E. Fisher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg" --- # The use of tact is always needful but it is especially… ![“The use of tact is always needful but it is especially necessary when speaking a truth that may strike a sensitive nerve in another.” quote by Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg) > ““The use of tact is always needful but it is especially necessary when speaking a truth that may strike a sensitive nerve in another.”” [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tact softens harsh truths, making them more acceptable to sensitive listeners. **In simple terms:** Use tact when delivering difficult truths. Key Takeaway Speak carefully to protect relationships. Themes communication empathy truth-telling Mood considerate strategic Type advice reflective When to use this quote - political debates - family discussions - workplace feedback - customer service - public speaking Key Concepts social dynamics psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance honesty with kindness? - When is it okay to be blunt? A Different Perspective Tact may dilute the impact of the truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related 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/) > [Tact, the kind of tact you should cultivate, is not a form of deception or make-believe, but a cultivated taste which gives fine perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/tact-the-kind-of-tact-you-should-cultivate-is-not-a-form-of-deception/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [“Rather than speaking the truth for the right reasons we may want to make our point defend our position or put the other person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/rather-than-speaking-the-truth-for-the-right-reasons-we-may-want-to/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [When a person in a Russian prison decides to start speaking, to start speaking the truth - they start to reject oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-alyokhina/when-a-person-in-a-russian-prison-decides-to-start-speaking-to-start/) [Maria Alyokhina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-alyokhina/) > [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. He's made a record not without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/the-upshot-here-is-that-gil-scott-heron-is-still-a-warrior-even-if/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [What probably distorts everything in life is that one is convinced that one is speaking the truth because one says what one thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-guitry/what-probably-distorts-everything-in-life-is-that-one-is-convinced/) [Sacha Guitry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-guitry/) > [“I think there's a real hunger for people speaking truth to power. Like, there's a little minority now that's saying you sounded like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-think-there-s-a-real-hunger-for-people-speaking-truth-to-power-like/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-know-for-sure-is-that-speaking-your-truth-is-the-most-powerful/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“There are times for war—many times. But sometimes it’s necessary to risk speaking the truth of our own vulnerabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/there-are-times-for-war-many-times-but-sometimes-it-s-necessary-to/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“«Speaking the truth is like gulping a mouthful of brandy: it burns on my tongue, but a moment after my body feels warmer, looser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-hodge/speaking-the-truth-is-like-gulping-a-mouthful-of-brandy-it-burns-on/) [Rosamund Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-hodge/) > [“Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/jack-gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-for-a-man-to-find-out-suddenly/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The only people mad at your for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-your-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simply speaking truth out loud is healing in and of itself. When people courageously voice a true, hard thing, they’ve already stolen some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hatmaker/simply-speaking-truth-out-loud-is-healing-in-and-of-itself-when/) [Jen Hatmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hatmaker/) > [The Greatest Advantage Of Speaking Truth Is That You Don't Have To Remember What You Said...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-advantage-of-speaking-truth-is-that-you-don-t-have-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only people mad at you for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-you-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert E. Fisher > [“Just stop pursuing the subject we know is going to lead to disaster. Pro 17:14 - The idea is not to sweep the matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/just-stop-pursuing-the-subject-we-know-is-going-to-lead-to-disaster/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“We may feel good about our words our intentions and our motivation may be pure but our message probably will be lost or misunderstood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/we-may-feel-good-about-our-words-our-intentions-and-our-motivation/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“The way we treat certain people in public should sqaure with the way we talk about them in private There should not be double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/the-way-we-treat-certain-people-in-public-should-sqaure-with-the-way/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“Arguing leave the participants emotionally exhausted and mentally depressed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/arguing-leave-the-participants-emotionally-exhausted-and-mentally/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“No behaviour on our part is more self-centered than the demand to speak and the refusal to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/no-behaviour-on-our-part-is-more-self-centered-than-the-demand-to/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“When we are offended in our relationship our feelings generally move through 4 stages: hurt anger revenge destructive action psychosomic symptoms depression. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/when-we-are-offended-in-our-relationship-our-feelings-generally-move/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“Studies have indicated that the tone of voice may be more important than any other element in our response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/studies-have-indicated-that-the-tone-of-voice-may-be-more-important/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“Rather than speaking the truth for the right reasons we may want to make our point defend our position or put the other person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/rather-than-speaking-the-truth-for-the-right-reasons-we-may-want-to/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“We must eliminate nagging with its complaining and contentious spirit because it focuses attention on self rather than on the other person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/we-must-eliminate-nagging-with-its-complaining-and-contentious-spirit/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“Disagree but don't argue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/disagree-but-don-t-argue/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“It is said that those who are critical feel the most self-hate. It follows then that those who practice giving praise and appreciation feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/it-is-said-that-those-who-are-critical-feel-the-most-self-hate-it/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) > [“Interruption is basically a self serving and egotistical at. It blatantly states What I have to say is more important than what you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/interruption-is-basically-a-self-serving-and-egotistical-at-it/) [Robert E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) [Explore all 13 Robert E. Fisher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/) ## More Truth quotes > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just speak the truth. I keep it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-vera/i-just-speak-the-truth-i-keep-it-real/) [Marlon Vera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-vera/) > [I always believed that photography was subjective, interpretive and certainly did not represent the truth, but I did think that its status as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ritchin/i-always-believed-that-photography-was-subjective-interpretive-and/) [Fred Ritchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ritchin/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Logic is essentially a tool for getting at truth; it is the tool, for without it no reasoning is possible in any field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oderberg/logic-is-essentially-a-tool-for-getting-at-truth-it-is-the-tool-for/) David Oderberg [Browse all 45,081 Truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The use of tact is always needful but it is especially necessary when speaking a truth that may strike a sensitive nerve in another.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. Fisher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it-is-especially-necessary-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Truth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it-is-especially-necessary-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/robert-e-fisher-36143_truth_the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it_1897925.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The use of tact is always needful but it is especially necessary when speaking a truth that may strike a…” — Robert E. Fisher", "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": "Robert E. Fisher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-fisher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The use of tact is always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it-is-especially-necessary-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-fisher/the-use-of-tact-is-always-needful-but-it-is-especially-necessary-when/#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 } } ] } ```