Justifications & Excuses

used to imply that in certain situations, such as relationships or conflicts, people may be willing to take any action to achieve their goals, even if it is not morally or ethically right

He didn't mind breaking a few rules to get ahead, believing that all is fair in love and war when it comes to career advancement.

used to emphasize that collaboration and balance are key to achieving success

The team's success was due in part to their understanding that a bird never flew on one wing, and that each member's contributions were necessary for achieving their goals.

used to emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and not blaming external factors for one's lack of competence or effort

The chef who burned the food blamed the stove, forgetting that a bad workman blames his tools, and failing to take responsibility for his lack of attention to the cooking process.

used to suggest that the desired outcome or goal of a particular action is more important than how it was achieved, even if that involves unethical or immoral methods

The politician's belief that the end justifies the means led him to use unethical tactics to win the election.

used to imply that being unaware of a law does not excuse someone from being punished for breaking it

The police officer informed the driver that not knowing that texting while driving was against the law was not a valid defense.Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.

used to suggest that if someone finds something that is not theirs, they are entitled to keep it, and that the original owner has no claim to it

I found a $20 bill lying on the sidewalk, and since no one was around to claim it, I decided that finders keepers applied and kept it.

used to imply that in times of extreme hardship or difficulty, it may be necessary to take unconventional or extreme actions in order to solve a problem or overcome an obstacle

Seeing no other option, the politician decided desperate times call for desperate measures and made a controversial speech spreading misleading information to sway the crucial election results.

used to imply that making excuses for one's failures is self-defeating and ultimately leads to a lack of progress and success

Sarah's coach reminded her that excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure when she tried to justify her lack of effort during practice, and encouraged her to take accountability for her actions and work harder to achieve her goals.

used to imply that an excuse is a form of dishonesty that is even more harmful than a lie because it is a deceptive attempt to justify or explain one's actions while avoiding accountability

When Tom's friend tried to make an excuse for why he missed their meeting, Tom reminded him that an excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded, and encouraged him to be honest about his mistake and work to make it right.

used to imply that even a weak excuse is better than not offering any explanation or justification

While it's always better to be honest, sometimes a bad excuse is better than none, especially if it can help diffuse a tense situation.

used to imply that when someone tries to explain or justify their actions or behavior, it can actually make them appear guilty or at fault, so taking responsibility is often better

Tom tried to blame his mistakes on his colleagues, but his boss reminded him that he who excuses himself, accuses himself.