Do the ends ever justify the means?

A common misconception…

A particular goal is so important that we do “whatever it takes” to get there…

It may be a social change that is gotten through violence — physical or more often, emotional/verbal— or through demonizing or shaming others.

It may be a personal goal or gain that we work so hard to achieve that we end up alienating the important relationships in our lives.

In fundamentalist religion, sometimes people would justify an unethical or unlawful behavior because even though it was breaking “man’s law” it was for the benefit of the outreach of “God’s Word.”

Some teachers, trainers, coaches believe that what they want their student/client to do is so important that they will use whatever means — including manipulation and deception—to get the client there.

“The ends justify the means…”

…would make sense if there was ever an “end” to history.

Or that there was a final destination to your relationships, whether in personal or business.

But what if…

…relationships never “end”?

What if the karmic consequences continue to reverberate life after life?

Be careful not to elevate our message, ideas, interpretation of life, morality to such heights that we fall into the “ends justifying the means” trap.

“The ends never justify the means. If the means are just, they need no justification. If the means are unjust, there is no way to justify them.”
—Bing Stafford

Another way to say it:

There really is no “end.” There are only means.