"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you, Never excuse yourself." - Henry Ward Beecher

What this quote is saying you should give yourself a higher standard that anyone else expects of you. This quote also wants you to never excuse yourself for something. For example, do things that you won't usually do. If people think that you're lazy, prove them wrong. If people think you're a bad person, prove them wrong. If people think you can't take care of yourself, prove them wrong too. Another example is not to blame others. If you had a responsibility and you messed up, don't try to blame someone else when you can.