--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never complain, never explain. Resist the…" description: "\"Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.\" — Brian Tracy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg" --- # Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to… ![“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.” quote by Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg) > “Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.” [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It advises avoiding defensive behavior and excuses, encouraging personal responsibility and composure in conflict. **In simple terms:** Don’t defend or make excuses; stay calm. Key Takeaway Practice restraint and accountability. Themes communication self‑control responsibility Mood practical assertive Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - workplace disputes - public criticism - personal disagreements Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to explain yourself? - How can you respond without defensiveness? A Different Perspective Some situations may require clarification rather than silence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Reticence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reticence/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Refuse to make excuses or blame others. The leader always says, If it's to be, it's up to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/refuse-to-make-excuses-or-blame-others-the-leader-always-says-if-it-s/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Money is the reason why I do this shit.. I don't gotta lie and make excuses for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trilla/money-is-the-reason-why-i-do-this-shit-i-don-t-gotta-lie-and-make/) [Trilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trilla/) > [I'm winning cause I don't make excuses. Excuses is useless. If I fuck up, then so be it and I keep it moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/360/i-m-winning-cause-i-don-t-make-excuses-excuses-is-useless-if-i-fuck/) 360 > [We always make so many excuses for ourselves - 'I'm so busy, I'm so tired, I don't want to do it.' You know? 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-boyce/we-always-make-so-many-excuses-for-ourselves-i-m-so-busy-i-m-so-tired/) [Cameron Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-boyce/) > [Do not make excuses, whether it's your fault or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-make-excuses-whether-it-s-your-fault-or-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't make excuses for why you're not doing what you have already deemed critical to your success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/don-t-make-excuses-for-why-you-re-not-doing-what-you-have-already/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“If you want to make money, you can't afford to make excuses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-czerepak/if-you-want-to-make-money-you-can-t-afford-to-make-excuses/) [Seth Czerepak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-czerepak/) > [Don't ever make excuses for being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-ever-make-excuses-for-being-yourself/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I'm not the person that when he has an off shooting game is going to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-m-not-the-person-that-when-he-has-an-off-shooting-game-is-going-to/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I Refuse To Make Excuses For Actions That Still Haven't Been Proven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dul/i-refuse-to-make-excuses-for-actions-that-still-haven-t-been-proven/) Dul > [Its hard to believe someone, when they make so many excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannyrae/its-hard-to-believe-someone-when-they-make-so-many-excuses/) VannyRae > [Awesome people dont make excuses or blame others for their own failures, mistakes or letdowns. They stand by their decisions and make adjustments not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/awesome-people-dont-make-excuses-or-blame-others-for-their-own/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I will never attempt to even begin to make excuses for what I did in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-storey/i-will-never-attempt-to-even-begin-to-make-excuses-for-what-i-did-in/) [Peter Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-storey/) > [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) ## More by Brian Tracy > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Rumi says: ‘die before you die’. It means live each moment fully. Then, when the moment dies, there is no pain or regret because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/rumi-says-die-before-you-die-it-means-live-each-moment-fully-then/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/almost-any-decision-is-better-than-no-decision-at-all/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Spend unbroken chunks of time with the most important people in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/spend-unbroken-chunks-of-time-with-the-most-important-people-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The effective leader recognizes that she is more dependent on her people than they are on her. Walk softly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-effective-leader-recognizes-that-she-is-more-dependent-on-her/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Develop a mentor at each stage of your career - someone who will give you guidance and advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/develop-a-mentor-at-each-stage-of-your-career-someone-who-will-give/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I believe each person has far more intelligence than they have ever used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-believe-each-person-has-far-more-intelligence-than-they-have-ever/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Our mind is the most valuable possession that we have. The quality of our lives is, and will be, a reflection of how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/our-mind-is-the-most-valuable-possession-that-we-have-the-quality-of/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Intense, burning desire is the motivational force that enables you to overcome any obstacle and achieve almost any goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/intense-burning-desire-is-the-motivational-force-that-enables-you-to/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Any system or blueprint for success is better than none at all. Think on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/any-system-or-blueprint-for-success-is-better-than-none-at-all-think/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-happiest-people-in-the-world-are-those-who-feel-absolutely/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The value of a promise is the cost to you of keeping your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-value-of-a-promise-is-the-cost-to-you-of-keeping-your-word/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) [Explore all 882 Brian Tracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More Be yourself quotes > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I does wat I does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-does-wat-i-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change nothing, just be yourself to experience peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/change-nothing-just-be-yourself-to-experience-peace/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. It will only excite them more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-badly-people-treat-you-never-drop-down-to-their-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Why is it that anyone can pretend to be someone there not and never be someone they are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem/why-is-it-that-anyone-can-pretend-to-be-someone-there-not-and-never/) Akeem > [You can never change the Past, not control the future. But, you can change the mood of the day, by touching someone's Heart with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/you-can-never-change-the-past-not-control-the-future-but-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Just be you. Do what you love. I've learned that in the end, you can't make everyone happy no matter what you say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/just-be-you-do-what-you-love-i-ve-learned-that-in-the-end-you-can-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Nothing has power over you unless you allow it. No matter what happens, you can choose what and how to think, act, and speak!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-has-power-over-you-unless-you-allow-it-no-matter-what-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm might not be the best , I might not be strongest or the fastest or the smart ,but I'm sure as hades ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/i-m-might-not-be-the-best-i-might-not-be-strongest-or-the-fastest-or/) MrAwesome > [I'm not a person to judge but I really don't care for people that follow I love the ones that want to lead unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-brown/i-m-not-a-person-to-judge-but-i-really-don-t-care-for-people-that/) [Jordan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-brown/) Browse all 2,115 Be yourself quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Tracy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/never-complain-never-explain-resist-the-temptation-to-defend-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/never-complain-never-explain-resist-the-temptation-to-defend-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/brian-tracy-216_be-yourself_never-complain-never-explain-resist-the_2250510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.” — Brian Tracy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brian Tracy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never complain, never explain. Resist the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/never-complain-never-explain-resist-the-temptation-to-defend-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/never-complain-never-explain-resist-the-temptation-to-defend-yourself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```