Tact

Politeness is the art of choosing among one's real thoughts.

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

If you have nothing nice to say about a person . . . don't say it.

People love as self-recognition what they hate as an accusation.

They should champion their one true God, exalted be He, through the hosts of forbearance, of submission, of an upright character, of goodly deeds, and of the choicest and most refined words.

Use a sweet tongue, courtesy, and gentleness, and thou mayest manage to guide an elephant by a hair.

Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.

The human mind is like a TV set. When it goes blank, it's a good idea to turn off the sound.

Never answer a critic, unless he's right.

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

There are many shining qualities on the mind of man; but none so useful as discretion. It is this which gives a value to all the rest, and sets them at work in their proper places, and turns them to the advantage of their possessor. Without it, learning is pedantry; wit, impertinence; virtue itself looks like weakness; and the best parts only qualify a man to be more sprightly in errors, and active to his own prejudice. Though a man has all other perfections and wants discretion, he will be of no great consequence in the world; but if he has this single talent in perfection, and but a common share of others, he may do what he pleases in his station of life.

I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.

Mutual respect implies discretion and reserve even in love itself; it means preserving as much liberty as possible to those whose life we share. We must distrust our instinct of intervention, for the desire to make one's own will prevail is often disguised under the mask of solicitude.

Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.

The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others.

Tact is the intelligence of the heart.

It is tact that is golden, not silence.