# The end justifying the means

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-justifying-the-means/229334>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 15, 2004, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-justifying-the-means/229334 "2004-02-15T08:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-justifying-the-means/229334/21 "2004-02-17T20:36:39Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> They are talking about peace as a distant goal, as an end we seek, but one day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. All of this is saying that, in the final analysis, means and ends must cohere because the end is pre-existent in the means, and ultimately destructive means cannot bring about constructive ends.  
> ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.\*\*

It is not the destination that makes us who we are. It is the way we take the journey. In a place as big as this Universe there may always be new goals, and new ends that need achieving. It is our job to make the path of humanity one paved with dignity, empathy, compassion, and strength of character - no matter what our ultimate destination, no matter what the final ends.

DaLovin’ Dj

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