TACT

Tact is a keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense. An acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending. It is a skillful application of wisdom in handling difficult and delicate situation so as to achieve a win-win outcome in a face of obvious opposition or controversy. Other words synonymous to tact are diplomacy, discretion, wisdom, and discernment.
A man of tact is skillful and choosy in his language, such one would not say what every other people would say nor react the way others would. They are quick to learn but not quickly to speak; they are great listeners.
Tact is a virtue and tact can be developed. It is not what you are born with but any one that cares can develop this virtue. In all diplomatic relation, tact is indispensable. Wars and diplomatic shut downs have been avoided in the past because of tact and there is a local adage in my language that says “a man of tact is stronger than a man of war”. I believe the world will be a more peaceful place when our leaders become people of tact or rather tactful in their handling of matters.
Jesus is a great example of tact and I will reference two accounts to bush through this argument that He Jesus is a great example of tact. One account is when He was asked about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar and the second is the account of the woman cut in the act. In the two accounts the answer of Jesus humbled His audience and they confessed to Jesus’ tact.

Mark 12:13-17.
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him.

John 8:2-11
2 Now early[a] in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught[b] in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded[c] us that such should be stoned.[d] But what do You say?”[e] 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.[f]
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up[g] and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,[h] went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,[i] “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?[j] Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and[k] sin no more.”