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In short, as with teachers so with talkers, by their ques- tions you shall know them as much as by their answers, and tact knows no exemptions of age or propinquity or caste. The purpose of conversation is to lift the morale of people, to tie them into a closer communion without violating their privacy or destroying their individuality. Obviously, intentional detraction, belittling, and malice are utterly detestable. But equally unfortunate is all involuntary tactlessness. Good people who want to be agreeable conversationalists should think twice before rushing into a comment or a question. They will throw a quick glance at the other's viewpoint. In that light they will then see that without sacrificing truth many a touchy matter may just as well be left unsaid, and many another may with a little ingenuity be reworded so as to lose its sting. The climate of good conversation requires that you not only want to be tactful, but study how to be so, and, that you determine firmly to talk less for your own than for the company's satisfaction. |
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