"An excuse seeks to ... remove ... blame ... in three ways.

• First, it can suggest what is seen as a fault is not really one.
• Secondly, it can suggest that, although there has been fault, the agent is not really blameworthy, because he is not responsible.
• And finally, it can suggest that, although there has been a fault, and though the agent is responsible, he is not really to blame because he has good reasons to do as he did."