Avoiding the need for excuses surpasses truthful excuses
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 329
۳۲۹. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام): الِاسْتِغْنَاءُ عَنِ الْعُذْرِ أَعَزُّ مِنَ الصِّدْقِ بِهِ.
329. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Not to be in need of putting forth an excuse is better than putting forth a true excuse. [1]