The End Justifies.....

[moralman]

Today, one of my friends got the saying mixed up and said 'the means justify the end'. I can't get my head round it. Does it mean anything?

[Buenchico]

It sounds like a good excuse for binge drinking to me, Moralman!

i.e. If you subscribe to the view that it doesn't matter that you end up lying in the gutter, covered in vomit, every Saturday night (because you've had a really fantastic night getting seriously p!ssed with your mates), you would be saying that 'the means justifies the end'.

[moralman]

Lol, fantastic, Buen. I've got my head round it now. Thanks :)

[Clanad]

To further illuminate Chris' bold answer, consider this analogy:

Divorcing After 45 Years An old man in Phoenix
calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to
ruin your day, But I have to tell you that your
mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years
of misery is enough." "Pop, what are you talking
about," the son screams. "We can't stand the
sight of each other any longer," the old man
said. "We're sick and tired of each other, and
I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your
sister in Chicago and tell her." And he hangs
up.

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes
on the phone, "Like heck they're getting a divorce,"
she shouts. "I'll take care of this."

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams
at the old man, "You are NOT getting divorced!
Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm
calling my brother back and we'll both be there
tomorrow. Until then don't do a thing, DO YOU
HEAR ME?" And she hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to
his wife. "Okay," he Says, "They're coming for
Thanksgiving and paying their own way."

[Arti]

Lol, good that.