--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My past was a private obstacle, not a…" description: "\"My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse.\" — Kelley Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png" --- # My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse. ![“My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse.” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png) > “My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse.” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees personal history as a private barrier rather than a justification for behavior. **In simple terms:** Past is a private barrier, not an excuse. Key Takeaway Own responsibility for actions. Themes responsibility self‑reflection boundaries Mood reflective determined Type advice personal development When to use this quote - career setbacks - relationship conflicts - self‑assessment Key Concepts personal growth accountability Questions to Reflect On - How does your past shape your present choices? - When is it appropriate to share personal obstacles? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic factors influencing behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Your past's a private matter, sweetheart. You just keep it locked up in xbox where it can't hurt anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/your-past-s-a-private-matter-sweetheart-you-just-keep-it-locked-up-in/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I love the old movies from my past, when I was growing up. I just have a special place in my heart for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/i-love-the-old-movies-from-my-past-when-i-was-growing-up-i-just-have/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [It's funny, I don't really feel that nostalgic. I only recently started putting up some photos from some of the sessions I've done over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-vig/it-s-funny-i-don-t-really-feel-that-nostalgic-i-only-recently-started/) [Butch Vig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-vig/) > [I'll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-ll-tell-you-all-my-secrets-but-i-lie-about-my-past/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Maybe I was a pirate in my past life. I didn’t kill people, though. I was just a badass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/maybe-i-was-a-pirate-in-my-past-life-i-didn-t-kill-people-though-i/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [After you reach a certain age, they think you’re over. Well, I will never be over. I’ll be making records if I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/after-you-reach-a-certain-age-they-think-you-re-over-well-i-will/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Fame is like a big eraser. It's strange, now that I'm famous. In my parents' opinion, all the shitty things - all the wreckage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/fame-is-like-a-big-eraser-it-s-strange-now-that-i-m-famous-in-my/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [I realized that there are just certain things in life that are private. I have things in my past - like everyone - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-osmond/i-realized-that-there-are-just-certain-things-in-life-that-are/) [Ken Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-osmond/) > [I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed... My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-madrid/i-am-part-of-the-fellowship-of-the-unashamed-my-past-is-redeemed-my/) [Patrick Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-madrid/) > [I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-turned-to-music-originally-because-of-my-past-and-needing-a-release/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [The more my fans know about my past, the more they'll be able to predict and understand some of the moves I make in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/the-more-my-fans-know-about-my-past-the-more-they-ll-be-able-to/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 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It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Excuse quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/) [Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/) Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelley Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-public-excuse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-public-excuse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/kelley-armstrong-581_excuse_my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-pub_3222276.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My past was a private obstacle, not a public excuse.” — Kelley Armstrong", "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": "Kelley Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My past was a private obstacle,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-public-excuse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/my-past-was-a-private-obstacle-not-a-public-excuse/#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 } } ] } ```