Merriam-Webster's OnLine Dictionary defines the word apology as follows:
Main Entry: apol•o•gy
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural apol•o•gies
Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Greek, from apo- + logos speech
Date: 1533
1 a: a formal justification : defense b: excuse
2 : an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret [a public apology]
3: a poor substitute : makeshift
Synonyms: apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense. apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances [said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could]. apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position [his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy]. excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure [used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting]. plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy [her usual plea that she was nearsighted]. pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation [used any pretext to get out of work]. alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation [his alibi failed to stand scrutiny].
We are human. We all make mistakes, learn from them (hopefully), and go about our lives. And many of us find ourselves saying "I'm sorry" quite a lot. Here are some words of wisdom, humor and pain that have been said over the years regarding "Apologies"
"Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths." ~ Lois Wyse
"When you realize you've made a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm." ~ Dan Heist
"Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them." ~ Author Unknown
"Never ruin an apology with an excuse." ~ Kimberly Johnson
"In some families, please is described as the magic word. In our house, however, it was sorry." ~ Margaret Laurence
"True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive." ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
"An apology is a good way to have the last word." ~ Author Unknown
"There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best."
~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
"The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe, Little Foxes, 1865
"An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything." ~ Lynn Johnston
"The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology." ~ Red Auerbach
"Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift." ~ Margaret Lee Runbeck
"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~ Mark Twain
"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." ~ William Blake
"A stiff apology is a second insult...
The injured party does not want to be compensated
because he has been wronged;
he wants to be healed because he has been hurt." ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton
"Love means never having to say you're sorry." ~ Erich Segal
"An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books." ~ Samuel Butler
"Apologies only account for that which they do not alter." ~ Benjamin Disraeli
"Friends are God's apology for relations." ~ Hugh Kingsmill
"An apology might help, but you can change your life without one." ~ Robin Quivers
"Apology is only egotism wrong side out." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
"I don't ask for an apology because it's only tomorrow's fish-and-chip paper." ~ Tracey Emin
"It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize." ~ Stephan Covey
"It will never do to plead sin as an excuse for sin, or to attempt to justify sinful acts by pleading that we have an evil heart. This instead of being a valid apology, is the very ground of our condemnation." ~ Archibald Alexander
"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so you apologize for truth." Benjamin Disraeli
"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past." ~ Tryon Edwards
"The only good thing about punctuality is that it usually gets you an apology." ~ Author Unknown
"I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue
I'm sorry about all the things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back" ~ Sorry ~ Buckcherry
"You say sorry, like the angel heaven let me think was you. But I'm afraid - It's too late, It's too late to apologize." ~ Apologize~ One Republic
"I don't wanna hear, I don't wanna know
Please don't say 'Forgive me'
I've seen it all before
And I can't take it anymore" ~ Sorry ~ Madonna
"What else should I be, all apologies" ~ All Apologies ~ Nirvana
"You want me to beg forgiveness, tender an apology
It's not my fault and you're not getting one from me"
~ Sorry Somehow ~ Husker Du
"I'm sorry, So sorry,
Please accept my apology.
But love is blind, and
I was too blind to see."
~ I'm Sorry ~ Brenda Lee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is my submission to the GBE. This week's topic is Apologies.
The GBE, or Group Blogging Experience is great fun. Each week (usually on Tuesday) we are given a general topic by our fearless leader Alicia and we have until that Saturday to blog about it. Say whatever you want. Silly, serious, true, fiction, debate.... whatever. It's up to you.
If your interested just go to Alicia's Blog and check it out. If you want to participate comment her blog saying "I'm in", that's it. No big sign up or anything. You blog and she'll link to your blog and everyone else's on Saturday.
Make sure you're not private though. So that everyone can read your blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment