“Tact comes as naturally to full-bore handguns as, say, ice-skating to African elephants, but there comes a time when an exceptional individual is prepared to stand up and break the mould.”

—  Tom Holt

My Hero (1996)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Tact comes as naturally to full-bore handguns as, say, ice-skating to African elephants, but there comes a time when an…" by Tom Holt?
Tom Holt photo
Tom Holt 40
British writer 1961

Related quotes

Lorenzo Snow photo

“The time has now come for every Latter-day Saint, who calculates to be prepared for the future and to hold his feet strong upon a proper foundation, to do the will of the Lord and to pay his tithing in full. That is the word of the Lord to you, and it will be the word of the Lord to every settlement throughout the land of Zion. After I leave you and you get to thinking about this, you will see yourselves that the time has come when every man should stand up and pay his tithing in full. The Lord has blessed us and has had mercy upon us in the past; but there are times coming when the Lord requires us to stand up and do that which He has commanded and not leave it any longer. What I say to you in this stake of Zion I will say to every stake of Zion that has been organized. There is no man or woman that now hears what I am saying who will feel satisfied if he or she fails to pay a full tithing.”

Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901) President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Tithing (see also: Tithe) [citation needed]

Chris Martin photo

“There's no reason not to stand for this song, come on, if you stand we'll buy you all ice cream”

Chris Martin (1977) musician, co-founder of Coldplay

Chris Martin, Live 2003.

Emil Zátopek photo

“It is not gymnastics or ice skating, you know.”

Emil Zátopek (1922–2000) Czech Olympic long-distance runner

Attributed by Tom Knight, "Zatopek: 'human locomotive' who made Olympic history", Telegraph, 23 November 2000 (Telegraph Media Group) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2993266/Athletics-Zatopek-human-locomotive-who-made-Olympic-history.html
regarding his lack of finesse

Edward Lucie-Smith photo

“A poet of my kind
Skates on the thinnest ice.”

Edward Lucie-Smith (1933) British art critic, writer and curator

Poem Postcard

Larry Niven photo

“11) There is a time and place for tact.
And there are times when tact is entirely misplaced.”

Larry Niven (1938) American writer

Niven's Laws

Chandra Shekhar photo

“There comes a time when one has to choose whether to kneel and be blessed, or to stand up and be counted. I choose the latter.”

Chandra Shekhar (1927–2007) Indian politician

When he resigned as PM after support was withdrawn by the Congress Party.
Source: Past Prime Ministers: Those who came before http://news.in.msn.com/elections-2014/past-prime-ministers-those-who-came-before?page=9, MSN.com, 26 May 2014

George Saitoti photo

“There comes a time when the nation is more important than an individual.”

George Saitoti (1945–2012) Kenyan politician

After he was ousted as the Vice president of Kenya by the 2nd president of Kenya, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi on 18 March 2002. Life and times of Professor George Saitoti http://www.kenyan-post.com/2012/06/life-and-times-of-prof-george-saitoti.html

50 Cent photo

“When that window rolls down and that A. K. comes out? You can squeeze your little handgun, until you run out.”

50 Cent (1975) American rapper, actor, businessman, investor and television producer

Heat
Song lyrics, Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)

“If you're skating on thin ice, you might as well dance.”

Anita Shreve (1946–2018) American writer

Source: Where or When

Ralph Waldo Emerson photo

“In skating over thin ice our safety is our speed.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, and poet

Prudence
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Variant: In skating over thin ice our safety is our speed.

Related topics