Welcome back to another dive into the Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, where we mix a little philosophy, a little humor, and a healthy dose of honesty. Today, we’re looking at the fine art of excuses—both the noble kind (not making them) and the hilarious ones (like blaming waterfowl). Stick around for a reflection that might make you think twice before reaching for your next excuse—and definitely before walking near a pond.
Thought of the Day: “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” — George Washington
You’ve got to love how George Washington, the guy who couldn’t tell a lie (allegedly), also had no patience for weak excuses. I imagine him standing there, arms crossed, while someone tries to explain why the Continental Army is late because “a horse ate my map.” No excuses, just own it.
This quote hits especially hard for me because I used to be a world-class excuse-maker. Not for big stuff, but for the small things—like forgetting a text, missing a deadline, or saying “I’m almost there” while still in pajamas. I’d sugarcoat my reasons or make something up that sounded more responsible than the truth.
But the thing about excuses, especially the bad ones, is that they don’t just let other people down. They chip away at your own integrity. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s better to say, “I didn’t do it” or “I messed up” than to try and dress failure up in a costume. At least then, you can learn something and move forward.
I even wrote about this theme a while back in this reflection on trusting yourself or trusting no one, sometimes the most freeing sentence is, “This was my fault.”
Question of the Day: What’s the most ridiculous excuse you’ve actually gotten away with?
I know this is going to sound ridiculous but I once got attacked by a duck while walking in the park and was late for an interview.
Not really, but I could think of any wild excuses I may have used in the past. The truth is I try hard not to use excuses. I try to own everything that I do.
But I have heard some wild ones in my time. A college roommate once told a professor their word processor “caught on fire” and all his work literally went up in smoke. The professor bought it. (Or didn’t have the energy to argue.)
Excuses are fascinating. They’re like little windows into human creativity, anxiety, and self-preservation. And sometimes, they’re just hilarious. If you’ve ever said, “I couldn’t make it because Mercury is in retrograde,” I see you. I respect the audacity.
If you enjoy questions like this, you might also like:
- This post about something embarrassing you’ve been caught doing
- This reflection ignorance being more dangerous than lies
Join the Conversation
Got a ridiculous excuse you’ve actually gotten away with? Drop it in the comments—I promise no judgment (but probably some laughs). And if you like reflecting on life with a twist, join my free daily email list here. One minute a day. One big thought. One curious question. Zero excuses.