Sayings

The end justifies the means

This page is about the saying "The end justifies the means"

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

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

Quick Quiz

The government says that "the end justifies the means," so killing one thousand people to save one million people will

a. be acceptable

b. be unacceptable

c. have no meaning
a) be acceptable b) be unacceptable c) have no meaning
The end justifies the means

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger