Georg C. Lichtenberg Quotes

Self-justification is a treacherous servant.

In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people's, we do not accept them easily enough.

Excuses sound best to the person that's making 'em up!

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded.

The truth is, narratives of self-justification burble beneath more of our relationships and endeavors than we would care to admit.

An excuse is sometimes more ugly than guilt.

There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still have to prove our worth anew each day: we have to prove that we are as good today as we were yesterday. But when we have a valid alibi for not achieving anything we are fixed, so to speak, for life.

Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.

Human beings will justify anything.

Every vice has its excuse ready.

There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement.

Even alone we go on justifying ourselves.

Guilt is often an excuse for not thinking.

In the conduct of life we make use of deliberation to justify ourselves in doing what we want to do.

We begin selling ourselves on what we want to do rather than what we ought to do. We listen to ourselves until we believe our own lies, and the we opt for happiness.

Don't knock rationalization. Where would we be without it? I don't know anyone who'd get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex. Have you ever gone a week without a rationalization?

By myself walking, To myself talking.

Amazing what we can self-rationalize when we really want something

The knowledge beyond all other knowledge is the knowledge how to excuse.

When you want something bad, you'll tell yourself a thousand lies.

We can always find noble reasons for what we want to do.

Start making excuses and there's no end to it. I can't live that kind of life.

No weakness of the human mind has more frequently incurred animadversion, than the negligence with which men overlook their own faults, however flagrant, and the easiness with which they pardon them, however frequently repeated.

Fear is an interesting energy that we all have to face. Some people step up and aren't afraid but still come up short. And some would rather cop out: "My shoulder hurts" or "I didn't give it my all." They can sleep at night.

I never made a mistake in my life; at least, never one that I couldn't explain away afterwards.