The maxim well encapsulates the stiff-upper lipped-ness of the Victorian age, but the timeless wisdom it contains has made it a guiding mantra of powerful, confident, accountability-prizing men up through the modern day.

The "nevers" of course aren't ironclad and don't apply to every situation, and even when they should apply, they can be hard to follow through on! But understanding when, where, and why to apply this maxim is truly a great help in becoming a more autonomous and assertive man.

Its four words pack a lot of truth in a small space and work on a few different levels. So let's unpack them, starting with the meat of the matter — "never explain" — and working backwards.

Never Explain

"Never explain — your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe you anyway." –Elbert Hubbard