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About this quote

What does it mean?
Tact involves audacity but requires knowing the boundary of acceptable risk.
In plain terms
Be bold but know exactly when to stop.
What can you take from it?
Practice boldness within clear social boundaries.

Where it applies

  • negotiating boundaries
  • leading a team
  • making difficult requests

Putting it to work

  • testing limits carefully
  • reading room dynamics
  • balancing confidence and respect

Questions to consider

  • How do you know when you have pushed too far?
  • What signals tell you to stop?

Another view

Miscalculating the boundary can lead to conflict or offense.

More from Jean Cocteau

  1. In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator.

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  2. The extreme limit of wisdom - that's what the public calls madness.

    Permalink to quote #42
  3. The worst tragedy for a poet is to be admired through being misunderstood.

    Permalink to quote #39

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