One of my favourite scenes in The Hustler, that classic 1961 movie staring Paul Newman, is when Bert Gorden (played by George C. Scott) lectures Paul's character on why he lost his previous pool game against the infamous pool shark "Minnesota Fats":

"Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning... that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers."

Ref: IMDB - George C. Scott: Bert Gordon

It serves to remind us that losing is easy when you have an excuse, and born losers search for excuses before seeking the path to success. A harsh lesson, but true.