--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I make no excuse for what happened…" description: "\"“I make no excuse for what happened. Drunkenness is never more than a symptom, not an absolute cause, and I realize that it would be wrong of me to try..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/paul-auster-351_drunk_i-make-no-excuse-for-what-happened-drunk_392591.jpg" --- # I make no excuse for what happened. Drunkenness is never… ![“I make no excuse for what happened. Drunkenness is never more than a symptom, not an absolute cause, and I realize that it would be wrong of me to try to defend myself. Nevertheless, there is at least the possibility of an explanation.” quote by Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/paul-auster-351_drunk_i-make-no-excuse-for-what-happened-drunk_392591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/paul-auster-351_drunk_i-make-no-excuse-for-what-happened-drunk_392591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/paul-auster-351_drunk_i-make-no-excuse-for-what-happened-drunk_392591.jpg) > ““I make no excuse for what happened. Drunkenness is never more than a symptom, not an absolute cause, and I realize that it would be wrong of me to try to defend myself. Nevertheless, there is at least the possibility of an explanation.”” [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges personal responsibility while noting that addiction is a symptom, not the sole cause, and that explanations are possible but not excuses. **In simple terms:** Addiction is a symptom, not an excuse. Key Takeaway Seek underlying causes and take responsibility. Themes responsibility addiction self-awareness Mood empathetic analytical Type psychological ethical When to use this quote - counseling - self-help - legal defense - personal accountability Key Concepts psychology ethics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What underlying issues contribute to addictive behavior? - How can we balance empathy with accountability? 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