People with integrity do what they say they are going to do. Others have excuses.
—Laura Schlessinger (b.1947) American Radio Talk-Show Host, Author
I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Don’t make excuses, make good.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The real man is one who always finds excuses for others, but never excuses himself.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
We have more ability than will power, and it is often an excuse to ourselves that we imagine that things are impossible.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It is wise to direct your anger towards problems—not people, to focus your energies on answers—not excuses.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Of all vain things excuses are the vainest.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Don’t make excuses—make good.
—Anonymous
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
It’s a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people don’t want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
Sometimes I wish I had a terrible childhood, so that at least I’d have an excuse.
—Jimmy Fallon (b.1974) American Comedian, TV Personality, Actor, Musician
Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.
—Edward R. Murrow (1908–65) American Broadcast Journalist
To offer the complexities of life as an excuse for not addressing oneself to the simpler, more manageable (trivial) aspects of daily existence is a perversity often indulged in by artists, husbands, intellectuals—and critics of the Women’s Movement.
—Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1934–2002) American Writer, Essayist, Critic
For many people, an excuse is better than an achievement because an achievement, no matter how great, leaves you having to prove yourself again in the future; but an excuse can last for life.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Every vice has its excuse ready.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Friendship isn’t a big thing—it’s a million little things.
—Anonymous
Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
—Kimberly Johnson (b.1971) American Poet, Historian, Academic
Several excuses are always less convincing than one.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
No doubt Jack the Ripper excused himself on the grounds that it was human nature.
—A. A. Milne (1882–1956) British Humorist, Playwright, Children’s Writer
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I attribute my success to this:I never gave or took an excuse.
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) English Nurse
We are all manufacturers – some make good, others make trouble, and still others make excuses.
—Unknown
Bad excuses are worse than none.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
If you don’t want to do something, one excuse is as good as another.
—Yiddish Proverb
Don’t do what you’ll have to find an excuse for.
—Common Proverb
Justifying a fault doubles it.
—French Proverb
An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; or an excuse is a lie guarded.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself—and be lenient to everybody else.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
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