To accuse others for one's own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

When you believe you are excusing yourself, you are accusing yourself.

An excuse is simply a challenge that you’ve decided has power over you.

They do not try to inform people of their ignorance. When you accuse someone of being wrong, you close them off to considering another perspective by heightening their defenses. If you first validate their stance (“That’s interesting, I never thought of it that way…”) and then present your own opinion (“Something I recently learned is this…”) and then let them know that they still hold their own power in the conversation by asking their opinion (“What do you think about

[S]ilence supports the accuser’s charge?

Prudence reproaches; conscience accuses.

Can anyone be proved innocent, if it be enough to have accused him?

ARGUE, v.t. To tentatively consider with the tongue.

When you blame others you are trying to excuse yourself. When you make excuses you can’t properly evaluate yourself. Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable.

This day I ceased to plead. I was no longer capable of lamentation. On the contrary, I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused.

The accusation, as it often is in Mississippi, was the confession.

Even under false accusation those who are in the right can afford to be calm and considerate. God is acquainted with all that is misunderstood and misinterpreted by men, and we can safely leave our case in His hands. He will as surely vindicate the cause of those who put their trust in Him as He searched out the guilt of Achan. Those who are actuated by the spirit of Christ will possess that charity which suffers long and is kind.

Whenever you place the cause of one of your actions outside yourself, it’s an excuse and not a reason.

APOLOGIZE, v.i. To lay the foundation for a future offence.