---
title: "An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a l… — John Paul II (Pope) Quote #67 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded. — a quote by John Paul II (Pope)."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

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

[John Paul II (Pope)](https://quotesby.net/John-Paul-II-(Pope))\#67

[Truth](https://quotesby.net/John-Paul-II-(Pope)/truth/)[Deception](https://quotesby.net/topics/deception/)[Integrity](https://quotesby.net/topics/integrity/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?An excuse is worse than a lie because it hides the lie. It adds deception to dishonesty.In plain termsExcuses are worse than lies because they try to hide the truth.What can you take from it?Avoid making excuses as they hide the truth.

### Where it applies

- accountability
- conflict resolution
- personal integrity

### Putting it to work

- take responsibility
- avoid justification

### Questions to consider

- Is an excuse ever honest?
- When should you explain instead of excusing?

### Another view

Sometimes context is needed to explain mistakes, not just confess.

## More from John Paul II (Pope)

1. > I hope to have communion with the people, that is the most important thing.

[Permalink to quote \#66](https://quotesby.net/John-Paul-II-(Pope)/66/ "Permalink to quote 66")
2. > God endowed \[the human race\] with capacity to attain to the inaccessible and invisible Supreme Good and behold it face to face.

[Permalink to quote \#68](https://quotesby.net/John-Paul-II-(Pope)/68/ "Permalink to quote 68")
3. > I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin.

[Permalink to quote \#65](https://quotesby.net/John-Paul-II-(Pope)/65/ "Permalink to quote 65")

## Related quotes

1. > Let us not foist this humbug on the world.

[Hartley Shawcross](https://quotesby.net/Hartley-Shawcross)[Hartley Shawcross quote \#3](https://quotesby.net/Hartley-Shawcross/3/ "Permalink to quote 3")
2. > El encarecer es ramo de mentir.

[Baltasar Gracian](https://quotesby.net/Baltasar-Gracian)[Baltasar Gracian quote \#4](https://quotesby.net/Baltasar-Gracian/4/ "Permalink to quote 4")
3. > Truth does not need to borrow garments from error. (Also translated as: Truth does not need to borrow garments from falsehood.)

[Jose Rizal](https://quotesby.net/Jose-Rizal)[Jose Rizal quote \#37](https://quotesby.net/Jose-Rizal/37/ "Permalink to quote 37")

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