end justifies the means
Meaning(s)
1. a desired result is more important than the method taken to achieve it
Popularity
Low
Professional
Low
Social
How to Memorize
it was an underhanded thing to do, but the end justifies the means
Analysis
The idiom 'the end justifies the means' is used to describe a situation where the process is difficult or morally dubious where the benefits of the outcome outweigh the difficulty of obtaining it. if you say 'the end justifies the means' you mean that the outcome is more important than the journey or the process to arrive there.
Social Examples (Advance)
- The politician's election campaign was filled with dirty tricks and negative attacks, but in the end she won, so she will feel the end justifies the means.
- Punishing bad behaviour is often difficult for parents but the end justifies the means.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- I threw Janet under the bus to make sure I got the promotion ahead of her. It was an underhanded thing to do but, for me, the end justifies the means.
- Robert didn't like embezzling money to keep his business afloat but, in his mind, the end justified the means.