---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are times when the end justifies…"
description: "\"There are times when the end justifies the means. But when you build an argument based on a whole series of such times, you may find that you've constr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg"
---

#  There are times when the end justifies the means. But when…

![“There are times when the end justifies the means. But when you build an argument based on a whole series of such times, you may find that you've constructed an entire philosophy of evil.&quot; --Luke Skywalker” quote by Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg)

> “There are times when the end justifies the means. But when you build an argument based on a whole series of such times, you may find that you've constructed an entire philosophy of evil." --Luke Skywalker”

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When ends are justified by means repeatedly, it can evolve into a harmful philosophy.

**In simple terms:** Ends justify means can become evil.

Key Takeaway

Beware of justifying harmful actions.

Themes

ethics philosophy power

Mood

cautionary serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political movements
- business decisions
- personal choices

Key Concepts

consequentialism moral relativism authoritarianism

Questions to Reflect On

- What limits should be set on means?
- How to detect creeping justification?

A Different Perspective

Justifying one act can lead to systemic abuse; vigilance required.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [End Justifies The Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-justifies-the-means/) [Ends justify the means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends-justify-the-means/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Your policy should be a mixture between your interests and how you reach your ends, but based on values. It cannot be only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/your-policy-should-be-a-mixture-between-your-interests-and-how-you/)

[Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/)

> [The principle that the end justifies the means is and remains the only rule of political ethics; anything else is just a vague chatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-principle-that-the-end-justifies-the-means-is-and-remains-the/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/in-a-world-where-success-is-the-measure-and-justification-of-all/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [The end justifies the means. Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing to get the right result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-fitzek/the-end-justifies-the-means-sometimes-you-have-to-do-the-wrong-thing/)

[Sebastian Fitzek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-fitzek/)

> [The principle that the end justifies the means is in individualist ethics regarded as the denial of all morals. In collectivist ethics it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-principle-that-the-end-justifies-the-means-is-in-individualist/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [You think the end justifies the means, however vile. I tell you: the end is the means by which you achieve it. Today's step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-think-the-end-justifies-the-means-however-vile-i-tell-you-the-end/)

[Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/)

> [Too soon we breast the tape and too late we realize the fun lay in the running. We deny that the end justifies the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-kelly/too-soon-we-breast-the-tape-and-too-late-we-realize-the-fun-lay-in/)

[Walt Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-kelly/)

> [The end justifies the means. But what if there never is an end? All we have is means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-end-justifies-the-means-but-what-if-there-never-is-an-end-all-we/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [The end justifies the means only when the means used are such as actually bring about the desired and desirable end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-end-justifies-the-means-only-when-the-means-used-are-such-as/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [And don't tell me the end justifies the means because it doesn't. We never reach the end. All we ever get is means. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/and-don-t-tell-me-the-end-justifies-the-means-because-it-doesn-t-we/)

[Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/)

> [ If it's anything that's going to result in suffering to animals or people, then I don't think \[the end\] justifies the means... Yeah; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/if-it-s-anything-that-s-going-to-result-in-suffering-to-animals-or/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [“It is my belief that the sentence "The end justifies the means"—that suppression, repression, and/or murder become somehow acceptable if committed in the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-my-belief-that-the-sentence-the-end-justifies-the-means-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“But don't they say that all is fair in love and war? I heard that somewhere." "'They?' Who are 'they?'" "I don't know. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/but-don-t-they-say-that-all-is-fair-in-love-and-war-i-heard-that/)

[John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/)

> [“the end justifies the means. But the end and the means are one. And if the means did not contribute to human happiness, neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-end-justifies-the-means-but-the-end-and-the-means-are-one-and-if/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [Politics can be relatively fair in the breathing spaces of history; at its critical turning points there is no other rule possible than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/politics-can-be-relatively-fair-in-the-breathing-spaces-of-history-at/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

## More by Aaron Allston

> [No, they can't. They can't be Luke Skywalker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/no-they-can-t-they-can-t-be-luke-skywalker/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“There will be pages. Lots and lots of pages. Most of the pages will have letters on them, and a vast majority of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-will-be-pages-lots-and-lots-of-pages-most-of-the-pages-will/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“You can't measure what a boy did in innocence against what a man has to do for the rest of his life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/you-can-t-measure-what-a-boy-did-in-innocence-against-what-a-man-has/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Life is like an analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/life-is-like-an-analogy/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [No, General. I'm not your subordinate. And what I'm coming dangerously close to is violence. -General Wedge Antilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/no-general-i-m-not-your-subordinate-and-what-i-m-coming-dangerously/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Luke, I don't want to discourage your curiosity, but I have to remind you, if something goes wrong, this is an exceptionally embarassing way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/luke-i-don-t-want-to-discourage-your-curiosity-but-i-have-to-remind/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“When are they going to stop calling me General?" "When are they going to stop calling me Princess?" Han &amp; Leia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/when-are-they-going-to-stop-calling-me-general-when-are-they-going-to/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“Begging your pardon, sir, but you’re crazy enough to be a Wraith." "Until you’ve crewed with me for a few years, kid, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/begging-your-pardon-sir-but-you-re-crazy-enough-to-be-a-wraith-until/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [I marked their location in case Kell wanted to blow them up or something.” “I don’t have to blow up everything I see. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/i-marked-their-location-in-case-kell-wanted-to-blow-them-up-or/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Lawyers are the first refuge of the incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/lawyers-are-the-first-refuge-of-the-incompetent/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“…The Antilles and Horn clans sat at a folding table between two StealthXs, playing what looked like a cutthroat game of sabacc.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/the-antilles-and-horn-clans-sat-at-a-folding-table-between-two/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [This would not be a problem if I were driving a snowplow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/this-would-not-be-a-problem-if-i-were-driving-a-snowplow/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Tomer: “What's this?” Cabinet: “Wt's ths?” Wedge: “Cabinet.” Tomer: “I know it's a cabinet, but it's talking.” Cabinet: “...ts tlkng” Janson: “Oh that. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/tomer-what-s-this-cabinet-wt-s-ths-wedge-cabinet-tomer-i-know-it-s-a/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“Mission One is the meeting with Zsinj. Face commands and has chosen Dia and Kell to accompany him. This is all intelligence gathering, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/mission-one-is-the-meeting-with-zsinj-face-commands-and-has-chosen/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Feminism is sort of like God. Many people profess to believe in it, but no one seems to be able to define it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/feminism-is-sort-of-like-god-many-people-profess-to-believe-in-it-but/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

[Explore all 60 Aaron Allston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

## More Argument quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

> [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

> [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/)

[Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

[Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are times when the end justifies the means. But when you build an argument based on a whole series of such times, you may find that you've constructed an entire philosophy of evil.\" --Luke Skywalker",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aaron Allston"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-the-means-but-when-you-build/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-the-means-but-when-you-build/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/aaron-allston-11395_argument_there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-t_984540.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are times when the end justifies the means. But when you build an argument based on a whole series of…” — Aaron Allston",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aaron Allston",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are times when the end...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-the-means-but-when-you-build/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-are-times-when-the-end-justifies-the-means-but-when-you-build/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
