--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Excuses are tools of the incompetent" description: "\"Excuses are tools of the incompetent\" — Mike Tomlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png" --- # Excuses are tools of the incompetent ![“Excuses are tools of the incompetent” quote by Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png) > “Excuses are tools of the incompetent” [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excuses are used to avoid responsibility and hide lack of skill. **In simple terms:** Excuses hide incompetence. Key Takeaway Stop making excuses and act. Themes accountability competence self-awareness Mood frustrated determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - workplace - personal development - team leadership Key Concepts psychology behavioral patterns Questions to Reflect On - What excuse are you using to avoid growth? - How can you replace excuses with action? A Different Perspective Excuses can sometimes be rationalizations for systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Excuses Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses-tools-531322/) [Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Tools Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools-incompetent-531324/) ## Related quotes > [EXCUSES ARE THE TOOLS OF INCOMPETENT THEY BUILD MONUMENTS OF NOTHINGNESS THOSE WHO DWELL UPON THEM ARE SELDOM GOOD FOR ANYTHING ELSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loveleelatanya-kendrick/excuses-are-the-tools-of-incompetent-they-build-monuments-of/) [Loveleelatanya Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loveleelatanya-kendrick/) > [Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build bridges to nowhere and monuments of nothingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-used-to-build-bridges-to-nowhere/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Excuses are tools of incompetence that build monuments of nothingness and those who specialize in them seldom do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-smith/excuses-are-tools-of-incompetence-that-build-monuments-of-nothingness/) [Thomas J Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-smith/) > [Excuses are the tools with which persons with no purpose in view build for themselves great monuments of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-grayhm/excuses-are-the-tools-with-which-persons-with-no-purpose-in-view/) [Steven Grayhm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-grayhm/) > [“Excuse is the tool of the incompetent. A monument of nothingness, and those that use it are not wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-adefarasin/excuse-is-the-tool-of-the-incompetent-a-monument-of-nothingness-and/) [Paul Adefarasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-adefarasin/) > [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/) > [If you want to be rich, don’t allow yourself the luxury of excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-want-to-be-rich-don-t-allow-yourself-the-luxury-of-excuses/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [One of the challenges of the movie is there are no apologies or excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/one-of-the-challenges-of-the-movie-is-there-are-no-apologies-or/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [“She's not ashamed of loving, although those she's loved are few in number; it was/is sweet and true. She's only ashamed she used love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/she-s-not-ashamed-of-loving-although-those-she-s-loved-are-few-in/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Your only Young Once , After that you have to Think of another Excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-jones/your-only-young-once-after-that-you-have-to-think-of-another-excuse/) [Victoria Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-jones/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/excuses-are-the-nails-used-to-build-a-house-of-failure/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Excuses cost a dime and that's why the poor could afford a lot of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/excuses-cost-a-dime-and-that-s-why-the-poor-could-afford-a-lot-of-it/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [It is impossible to need excuses when the focus of your life shifts from 'What's in it for me?' to 'How can I serve?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-is-impossible-to-need-excuses-when-the-focus-of-your-life-shifts/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) ## More by Mike Tomlin > [I shaped my reputation in this business and this outlook in this business being singularly focused on the task at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-shaped-my-reputation-in-this-business-and-this-outlook-in-this/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [It's not only a moral obligation, but a social responsibility to leave the game and our vocation better than we found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-not-only-a-moral-obligation-but-a-social-responsibility-to-leave/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I know at least for me, man, I wanted to be the best dad I could be. I was trying to be perfect. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-know-at-least-for-me-man-i-wanted-to-be-the-best-dad-i-could-be-i/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [Football is a legitimate humble man's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/football-is-a-legitimate-humble-man-s-game/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [In the mid-1990s, I was a young offensive coach. I received sound advice that I had a better chance ascending on the defensive side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/in-the-mid-1990s-i-was-a-young-offensive-coach-i-received-sound/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [The good teams, the dominant teams, aren't necessarily dominant in stadiums, but they are dominant largely in moments, when they do what's required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/the-good-teams-the-dominant-teams-aren-t-necessarily-dominant-in/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I prefer old friends as opposed to new ones - people who have been significant in my growth and development along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-prefer-old-friends-as-opposed-to-new-ones-people-who-have-been/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I don't focus on what's in my rearview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-don-t-focus-on-what-s-in-my-rearview/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I believe in hiring from within in most cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-believe-in-hiring-from-within-in-most-cases/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I wanted to be a great player, and I wasn't. I never got over that. I take that same energy into coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-wanted-to-be-a-great-player-and-i-wasn-t-i-never-got-over-that-i/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [It's not fun to relocate or get fired or things of that nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-not-fun-to-relocate-or-get-fired-or-things-of-that-nature/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [People give you good information all the time that are helping you in in your journey. If you're a good listener, you retain those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/people-give-you-good-information-all-the-time-that-are-helping-you-in/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I'm active in my community. I want to help as many people as I can help. I want to utilize this platform for good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-m-active-in-my-community-i-want-to-help-as-many-people-as-i-can/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [You wear on your teammates when they routinely have to answer questions about things that aren't preparation or football-related.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/you-wear-on-your-teammates-when-they-routinely-have-to-answer/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [If changes produce better outcomes or seemingly produce better outcomes, or we feel like it puts us in position to produce better outcomes, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/if-changes-produce-better-outcomes-or-seemingly-produce-better/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) [Explore all 120 Mike Tomlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Excuses are tools of the incompetent", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Tomlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/mike-tomlin-3886_excuse_excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent-141_1411252.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Excuses are tools of the incompetent” — Mike Tomlin", "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": "Mike Tomlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Excuses are tools of the incompetent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/excuses-are-tools-of-the-incompetent/#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 } } ] } ```