Tact<\/em> means \u201cskill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues,\u201d according to the OED<\/em>. Furthermore, the OED<\/em> says that it enters the language in the 17th<\/sup> century and refers to touch; it comes from Latin (through French) tactus<\/em> \u201ctouch, sense of touch,\u201d from the verb tangere<\/em> \u201cto touch.\u201d www.etymonline.com<\/a> adds that the meaning we are most familiar with today is first documented in 1804, reflecting a parallel development in the meaning in French.<\/p>\n A minister was standing at the back of the church greeting the people as they left the service. Soon, up came a little old widow, holding something in her hands. When she reached the pastor, she said, \u201cHere, Pastor, I baked this pie for you and your family.\u201d He thanked her, and she moved on.<\/p>\n After finishing up at the church, the pastor got home to Sunday dinner with the family. After dinner, he broke out the pie; he cut a slice for each member of the family, and the dug in.<\/p>\n It was awful. They each had one bite and almost lost their dinner. The pastor then threw the pie in the trash.<\/p>\n The next Sunday, the pastor is standing at the back of the church greeting the people as they leave the service. Sure enough, here comes the little old lady. When she gets to the pastor, she asks, \u201cHow was that pie, Pastor?\u201d<\/p>\n He smiles and says, \u201cPies like that don\u2019t last very long around our house.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM, a fearsome army character with a Stentorian voice) is drilling some recruits on the parade ground when he gets a message that the mother of one of them has died.<\/p>\n RSM: “SMITH, YOUR MOTHER’S DEAD!” Smith drops down in a dead faint.<\/p>\n The RSM’s superior officer takes him on one side afterwards and tells him he should be a bit more tactful about such things.<\/p>\n RSM: “YES, SIR, I WILL BE!”<\/p>\n A week later a similar event occurs.<\/p>\n RSM, on the parade ground: “ALL THOSE WITH MOTHERS, TWO STEPS FORWARD!”<\/p>\n “JONES, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?”<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n