55 Famous Alibis

Never act and then alibi.

People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be airtight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.

Some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. But alibis cannot be used for money. The world wants to know only one thing—have you achieved success?

Napoleon Hill shared in his book, Think and Grow Rich, a compiled list of the most commonly used alibis. As you read the list, examine yourself carefully and determine how many of these alibis, if any, are your own property.

1. If only I didn't have a wife and family.
2. If only I had enough "pull".
3. If only I had money.
4. If only I had a good education.
5. If only I could get a job.
6. If only I had good health.
7. If only I had time.
8. If only times were better.
9. If only other people understood me.
10. If only conditions around me were different.
11. If only I could live my life over again.
12. If only I did not fear what "they" would say.
13. If only I had been given a chance.
14. If only I now had a chance.
15. If only other people didn't "have it in for me".
16. If only nothing happened to stop me.
17. If only I were younger.
18. If only I could do what I want.
19. If only I had been born rich.
20. If only I could meet "the right people".
21. If only I had the talent some people have.
22. If only I dared asset myself.
23. If only I had embraced past opportunities.
24. If only people didn't get on my nerves.
25. If only I didn't have to keep house and look after the children.
26. If only I could save some money.
27. If only the boss appreciated me.
28. If only I had somebody to hep me.
29. If only my family understood me.
30. If only I lived in a big city.
31. If only I could just get started.
32. If only I were free.
33. If only I had the personality of some people.

34. If only I were not so fat.
35. If only my talents were known.
36. If only I could just get a "break".
37. If only I could get out of debt.
38. If only I hadn't failed.
39. If only I knew how.
40. If only everybody didn't oppose me.
41. If only I didn't have so many worries.
42. If only I could marry the right person.
43. If only people weren't so dumb.
44. If only my family were not so extravagant.
45. If only I were sure of myself.
46. If only luck were not against me.
47. If only I had not been born under the wrong star.
48. If only it were not true that "what is to be will be".
49. If only I did not have to work so hard.
50. If only I hadn't lost my money.
51. If only I lived in a different neighborhood.
52. If only I didn't have a "past".
53. If only I had a business of my own.
54. If only other people would listen to me.
55. If only—and this is the greatest of them all—I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me and correct it. Then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others. I know there is something wrong with me or I would now be where I would have been if I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them.


Building alibis with which to explain away failure is a habit as old as the human race, and is fatal to success! Why do people cling to their pet alibis? The answer is obvious. The defend their alibis because they create them!

An alibi is the child of one's own imagination. It is human nature to defend one's own brainchild. Building alibis is a deeply rooted habit. Habits are difficult to break, especially when they provide justification for something we do.