“We are victims of ourselves; others are merely an excuse”
Source: قيس وليلى والذئب, 21 mars 2011 · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The sentence is bibliographically attributed to Buthaina Al‑Eisa and associated with the book قيس وليلى والذئب published in 2011.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is supported by catalogs and quotation sites, but a direct scanned page or digital text from the printed edition is not provided here.
Understanding the quote
The line urges stepping out of the victim role by showing how we can turn hurt into a standing excuse. It is bibliographically linked to the 2011 book قيس وليلى والذئب by Kuwaiti writer Buthaina Al‑Eisa and reads like a compact moral observation rather than a denunciation.
In the original · Arabic
نحن ضحايا أنفسنا، الآخرون مجرد حجة
The story behind it
Buthaina Al‑Eisa, born in Kuwait in 1982, writes across genres; her 2011 collection mixes narrative, poetry and reflective lines that circulate as standalone quotes.
Going further
- The era
- In 2011, amid contemporary Arab literature exploring inward and social themes.
- The thinking
- In practice: notice when you blame others to avoid change, then choose a small concrete step. It's about regaining agency without denying real harm.
- Key word
- Personal responsibility: owning your part in a situation while acknowledging external wrongs.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Write for 12 minutes about a recent moment when you blamed someone else; name the unmet need you were actually trying to meet.
The quote highlights how we use others as excuses. Freewriting exposes the inner rules that turn pain into a standing justification.
When you feel defensive today, take a 5-minute pause: breathe, name the sensation, and whisper, “I take responsibility for my emotion.”
The quote shows we make ourselves victims. A mindful pause curbs reactivity so you can respond rather than justify with blame.
Call or meet someone involved in a misunderstanding; open with “I want to understand my part” and listen uninterrupted for 5 minutes.
The quote notes others become excuses. Taking responsibility and listening shifts the dynamic away from victimhood and toward repair.
How do you use others as an excuse to avoid making a change in your life?
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