"Silence and tact may or may not be the same thing"

This quote by Samuel Butler recommends that although silence and tact might appear to be the same thing, they are not necessarily the exact same. Silence can be analyzed as an absence of communication, while tact is the ability to be diplomatic and thoughtful when interacting. Silence can be utilized to avoid conflict, while tact can be used to solve it. Silence can be viewed as an indication of regard, while tact can be viewed as an indication of understanding. Silence can be utilized to prevent stating something that might be painful, while tact can be used to state something that is useful. Silence can be used to avoid saying something that might be misinterpreted, while tact can be utilized to state something that is clear and concise. Eventually, silence and tact are 2 different things, however they can both be utilized to accomplish the very same goal.