--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every life is its own excuse for being…" description: "\"Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/elbert-hubbard-510_deny_every-life-is-its-own-excuse-for-being-a_2320260.jpg" --- # Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or… ![“Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon the doer, and the person who makes wrong statements about others is themselves to be pitied, not the person they vilify. It is better to be lied…” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/elbert-hubbard-510_deny_every-life-is-its-own-excuse-for-being-a_2320260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/elbert-hubbard-510_deny_every-life-is-its-own-excuse-for-being-a_2320260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/elbert-hubbard-510_deny_every-life-is-its-own-excuse-for-being-a_2320260.jpg) > “Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon the doer, and the person who makes wrong statements about others is themselves to be pitied, not the person they vilify. It is better to be lied about than to lie. At the last no one can harm us but ourselves.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People should accept responsibility for their own reputations; blaming others is misguided, and being falsely accused is preferable to being a liar. **In simple terms:** Own your reputation; avoid blaming others. Key Takeaway Choose honesty over deceit. Themes responsibility reputation honesty self‑reflection Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace conflicts - public criticism - personal relationships - online discourse Key Concepts personal integrity ethical behavior accountability Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to defend a false accusation? - How does self‑blame affect growth? A Different Perspective Truth may still cause personal pain; some may exploit honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Vilify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vilify/) ## Related quotes > [You know how ESPN works; they'll throw themselves into a frenzy over Tebow's white bread lame ass niceness and then vilify Johnny Football just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/you-know-how-espn-works-they-ll-throw-themselves-into-a-frenzy-over/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [You don't want to vilify your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/you-don-t-want-to-vilify-your-ego/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [My attitude is if somebody blunders into the level of popularity; at least remember the human factor. These guys are still human beings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/my-attitude-is-if-somebody-blunders-into-the-level-of-popularity-at/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [ \[T\]he Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar Left, and black people. You understand what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ehrlichman/t-he-nixon-campaign-in-1968-and-the-nixon-white-house-after-that-had/) John Ehrlichman > [Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-beaumarchais/vilify-vilify-some-of-it-will-always-stick/) [Pierre Beaumarchais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-beaumarchais/) > [Memory has its own special kind. It selects, eliminates, alters, exaggerates, minimizes, glorifies, and vilifies also; but in the end it creates its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/memory-has-its-own-special-kind-it-selects-eliminates-alters/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [ Ronald Reagan said "trust, but verify." President \[Barack\] Obama is "trust, but vilify." He trusts our enemies and vilifies everyone who disagrees with him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/ronald-reagan-said-trust-but-verify-president-barack-obama-is-trust/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [I learned that when you do the best job that you can do, some people will idolize you, others won't care, and some will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-learned-that-when-you-do-the-best-job-that-you-can-do-some-people/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [Nothing has tended more to retard the advancement of science than the disposition in vulgar minds to vilify what they cannot comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nothing-has-tended-more-to-retard-the-advancement-of-science-than-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/here-s-to-the-crazy-ones-the-misfits-the-rebels-the-troublemakers-the-2/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I would never want to vilify somebody who considered abortion murder. I was an illegitimate child myself. I may not have existed today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-would-never-want-to-vilify-somebody-who-considered-abortion-murder/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [There would not be any profits but for the eagerness of the public to acquire the merchandise offered for sale by the successful entrepreneur.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/there-would-not-be-any-profits-but-for-the-eagerness-of-the-public-to/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [It's so easy to persecute an older, overweight, unwise, crude, ignorant woman who may very well be a good person at heart who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/it-s-so-easy-to-persecute-an-older-overweight-unwise-crude-ignorant/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“We always vilify what we don't understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/we-always-vilify-what-we-don-t-understand/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“As a rule, theologians know nothing of this world, and far less of the next; but they have the power of stating the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/as-a-rule-theologians-know-nothing-of-this-world-and-far-less-of-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [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/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More Deny quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/one-cannot-deny-the-humanity-of-another-without-diminishing-one-s-own/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Not to fear a person with power--to profess, instead, one's love--is to deny that that person has power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/not-to-fear-a-person-with-power-to-profess-instead-one-s-love-is-to/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Our life is half natural and half technological. Half-and-half is good. You cannot deny that high-tech is progress. We need it for jobs. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nam-june-paik/our-life-is-half-natural-and-half-technological-half-and-half-is-good/) [Nam June Paik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nam-june-paik/) > [Whether you face reality head on and make a life change, or deny your responsibility, you've made a choice. The way I see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-phillips/whether-you-face-reality-head-on-and-make-a-life-change-or-deny-your/) [Shawn Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-phillips/) > [“I've tried to deny it even to myself... My heart and soul are filled with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-thacker/i-ve-tried-to-deny-it-even-to-myself-my-heart-and-soul-are-filled/) [Shelly Thacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-thacker/) > [“Just because you deny facts and science doesn't mean they aren't true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-corn/just-because-you-deny-facts-and-science-doesn-t-mean-they-aren-t-true/) [Johnny Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-corn/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Peace in the struggle to find peace.. comfort on the way to comfort. 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Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Something very unique about Germany is that once you are suspected or accused of having worked for the Stassi, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-schwochow/something-very-unique-about-germany-is-that-once-you-are-suspected-or/) [Christian Schwochow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-schwochow/) Browse all 2,237 Deny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon the doer, and the person who makes wrong statements about others is themselves to be pitied, not the person they vilify. It is better to be lied about than to lie. 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