A bad excuse is better than none

This is as thei saie in English, better a badde excuse, then none at all.
[1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason S6]

A bad excuse is better, they say, then none at all.
[1579 S. Gosson School of Abuse 24]

The old fellow's look had a glimpse of passing cunning as much as to say, ‘A bad excuse is better than none.’
[1821 W. Wirt Letter 29 Aug. in J. P. Kennedy Memoirs (1849) II. vii.]

What excuse is better than none?
[1981 P. Van greenaway ‘Cassandra’ Bill xiii.]

Related to: excuses

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

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