--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It will never do to plead sin as an…" description: "\"It will never do to plead sin as an excuse for sin, or to attempt to justify sinful acts by pleading that we have an evil heart. This instead of being ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/archibald-alexander-28736_apology_it-will-never-do-to-plead-sin-as-an-excu_2219124.png" --- # It will never do to plead sin as an excuse for sin, or to… ![“It will never do to plead sin as an excuse for sin, or to attempt to justify sinful acts by pleading that we have an evil heart. This instead of being a valid apology, is the very ground of our condemnation.” quote by Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/archibald-alexander-28736_apology_it-will-never-do-to-plead-sin-as-an-excu_2219124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/archibald-alexander-28736_apology_it-will-never-do-to-plead-sin-as-an-excu_2219124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/archibald-alexander-28736_apology_it-will-never-do-to-plead-sin-as-an-excu_2219124.png) > “It will never do to plead sin as an excuse for sin, or to attempt to justify sinful acts by pleading that we have an evil heart. This instead of being a valid apology, is the very ground of our condemnation.” [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excusing sin with a sinful heart fails as a true apology and deepens condemnation. **In simple terms:** Blaming bad nature doesn’t excuse wrongdoing. Key Takeaway Seek genuine repentance, not rationalization. Themes morality apology self‑deception condemnation spirituality Mood reflective serious inspirational Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - confessional counseling - legal defense - personal reflection - religious teaching - moral education Key Concepts theology ethical philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish genuine remorse from excuse? - Can acknowledging fault alone heal? A Different Perspective Rationalizing sin can perpetuate guilt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Condemnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemnation/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuse Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse-sin-1504054/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Justify Sinful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify-sinful-4944870/) [Plead Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plead-sin-4944869/) [Pleading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleading/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-attempt-874037/) [Sin Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-excuse-4040091/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) ## Related quotes > [“If my sin appears to me to be in any way smaller or less reprehensible in comparison with the sins of others, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/if-my-sin-appears-to-me-to-be-in-any-way-smaller-or-less/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“God can forgive any sin, but He will not excuse any.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ruhling/god-can-forgive-any-sin-but-he-will-not-excuse-any/) [Richard Ruhling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ruhling/) > [It is no sin to attempt and fail. 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And that is because Theodore Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-whole-four-to-five-weeks-that-we-ve-been-here-in-this-courtroom/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [“She tried to pull away, but Jacks held tight, knotting her hair in his fist and keeping his forehead pressed to hers. 'Please, Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/she-tried-to-pull-away-but-jacks-held-tight-knotting-her-hair-in-his/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [“It is bad enough to be unconverted and going to hell. It is even worse to say, “I know it and will not cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/it-is-bad-enough-to-be-unconverted-and-going-to-hell-it-is-even-worse/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) ## More by Archibald Alexander > [Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/jesus-christ-came-into-the-world-to-save-sinners/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass - "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/all-my-theology-is-reduced-to-this-narrow-compass-jesus-christ-came/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [But however long you may have continued in rebellion, and how ever black and long the catalog of your sins, yet if you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/but-however-long-you-may-have-continued-in-rebellion-and-how-ever/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else; and primarily, morality consists in the motives, that is in the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/men-are-more-accountable-for-their-motives-than-for-anything-else-and/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [“Conviction, then, is no part of a sinner’s salvation—but the clear practical knowledge of the fact that he cannot save himself, and is entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/conviction-then-is-no-part-of-a-sinner-s-salvation-but-the-clear/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [Nature never makes any blunders, when she makes a fool she means it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/nature-never-makes-any-blunders-when-she-makes-a-fool-she-means-it/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [It is commonly said that men are forward to believe whatever is connected with their own interest. 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Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. 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