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by Calypto on May 4th, 2009
It means that the result of an action is considered valuable enough to cause one to overlook the method used to get to that result.
by Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence on May 5th, 2009
>>"the end justifies the means"<<
"The end" refers to the final result of one's action(s).
"The means" refers to the methods used to attain that result.
It has nothing to do with intention, as somebody posted. Nor is the means necessarily "wrong," as someone else posted:
"you did something really wrong to get something you really wanted."
The phrase simply means, "Do whatever it takes to get the desired result." It doesn't mean do something right or do something wrong. It's an amoral (without morals) philosophy.
by I Lost My Marbles on May 4th, 2009
It means that:
Even though you did something really wrong to get something you really wanted, it's okay because something you think is good came out in the end.
by SABOTEUR on November 22nd, 2009
It means, "Screw YOU...I'm gettin' mine!"
by ChrisDC on May 5th, 2009
It's an idea which tells you that if your goals are good, you can do anything necessary to achieve them.
For example, Joseph Stalin wanted to create a truly socialist state in the USSR. This phrase provided him with an excuse to murder tens of millions of people.
Similarly, Adolf Hitler wanted a strong and unified German state that would be a dominant world power. He found that he could come to political power by demonizing anyone who wasn't German, and then setting up murder factories to kill them all.
In effect, the phrase is a justification for dispensing with all morality and principle in the journey toward the goal that you believe is good.
If there is anything more likely to provide a justification for evil, I don't know what it is.
I've never seen it used for anything but that.
by Prunesquallor on November 22nd, 2009
It means that if your desired goal is a good one, then it doesn't matter if you pursue evil means to reach that goal.
It is a lie, and it has been used to justify atrocities through the ages.
by Brian on November 22nd, 2009
It means that it's okay to kill jaywalkers and litterers if it stops them from committing those crimes! ;)
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on May 18th, 2009
The end result justifies the means by which you went about in order to achieve it.
by technios on May 5th, 2009
It means that although you might do slightly wrong during the course of creating a greater good... things were better when you did it. If justified... otherwise think twice.
by ravi .....Come up.... O Lion on May 4th, 2009
i think ..it means that whatever result(success & failure) we get in life..is result of means we adopted.
we have to blame no one....end is totally our responsibility..good or bad it may be....
so if u want good end pay as much attention to means as to end.
by schmee2369 on May 4th, 2009
It means....in the end a person is only judged by their intentions...
Actions speak for actions...but nobody know a person intentions behind that action...except for God.
becuase the actions could have seemed wrong...but in the end, it turned out for the best...
by kittenbritches99 on February 13th, 2011
Many people use that to justify the way they got to the end. They are dishonest and use other people to get what they want and to them what they got at the end was worth it to them. They want what they want and they don't care how they get it.
by Robertd903 on February 13th, 2011
If memory serves me correctly: The END result justifies the MEANS of getting to it (the END.) In other words, the "rewards" expected at the END--makes the MEANS of getting to the END, worthwhile.
by Prunesquallor on February 14th, 2011
A good end result justifies immoral or bad actions to achieve it. It is completely false, and the kind of thinking it engenders has led to countless atrocities.
The end *never* justifies the means.
In a non-fencing context, what is the correct usage of the french word 'Touche'?
by Tonibee on May 29th, 2009
| 3 people like this
What does this mean? "There is a dime in the back pocket and it is on heads!"
by Cotton 201 on April 9th, 2009
| 10 people like this
Who said, "There is no time like the present"?
That person deserves a medal!
by Phillis - Zacks little sister on May 18th, 2009
| 11 people like this
What does the phrase "the end justifies the means" mean?
by seldomseen on May 4th, 2009
| 10 people like this
What is the origin of the phrase "Step children to god"?
by MrAccident on December 29th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
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Comments
thnx buddy,weII put!
by seldomseen on May 4th, 2009