A tactful person reframes criticism so it is received kindly

Saying / Proverb★★★

An unwise man tells a woman to stop talking so much, but a tactful man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed.

The point

A tactful person reframes criticism so it is received kindly.

Audience

Adults

Tone

Humorous

To tell aloud

under a minute · 28 words

Subjects

Variation 126 words

A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking, but a wise man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed.

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A diplomatist is a man who always remembers a woman’s birthday, but never remembers her age.

— Robert Frost

A tactful man remembers a lady's birthday but forgets her age.

A diplomat can keep his shirt on while getting something off his chest.

Tact is the art of convincing people that they know more than you do. –Raymond Mortimer, Reader's Digest, Quotable Quote…

— Raymond Mortimer

Tact is knowing how far to go before going too far.

The art of jumping into troubled waters without making a splash.

— Art Linkletter