It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. — George Washington | Printable Wall Art

“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”

Words by George Washington (1732-1799) — 1st U.S. President.

About this quote

Taking responsibility for a mistake requires integrity, while making a weak apology only damages trust further. Offering a flimsy justification suggests dishonesty or a refusal to accept accountability. It is far wiser to remain silent, or simply acknowledge an error, than to invent a poor defence that undermines your character and credibility in the eyes of others.

George Washington wrote this advice in a letter to his young nephew, Bushrod Washington, on 15 January 1783. The letter offered guidance on personal conduct, study, and reputation as the young man prepared for his legal career.

People often hang this in a home office or study as a quiet reminder of personal accountability and discipline.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.