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Reference : Sayings : Badness : The end justifies the means

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The end justifies the means

Possible interpretation: If our objective is good, then it doesn't matter if the way we achieve it is bad or wrong or evil.

Note: end (noun) = goal; objective; result | justify (verb) = prove or show to be reasonable or right | means (noun) = method; way of doing something | Conflicting proverb: "Never do evil that good may come of it."

Quick Quiz:

The government says that "the end justifies the means," so killing one thousand people to save one million people will
  1. be acceptable
  2. be unacceptable
  3. have no meaning