--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pathway to hell was paved with good…" description: "\"“The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions, but what about the wrongs committed for the right reasons? Were they included as well? Life had ta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/leila-meacham-45386_quote_the-pathway-to-hell-was-paved-with-good_1271498.jpg" --- # The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions, but… ![“The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions, but what about the wrongs committed for the right reasons? Were they included as well? Life had taught him that anything that starts wrong, ends wrong. In this case, he supposed that only time and its unpredictable mercies would tell. - Percy” quote by Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/leila-meacham-45386_quote_the-pathway-to-hell-was-paved-with-good_1271498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/leila-meacham-45386_quote_the-pathway-to-hell-was-paved-with-good_1271498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/leila-meacham-45386_quote_the-pathway-to-hell-was-paved-with-good_1271498.jpg) > ““The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions, but what about the wrongs committed for the right reasons? Were they included as well? Life had taught him that anything that starts wrong, ends wrong. In this case, he supposed that only time and its unpredictable mercies would tell. - Percy”” [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good intentions do not guarantee positive outcomes; unintended consequences can arise even from noble motives. **In simple terms:** Good intentions can still lead to bad results. Key Takeaway Consider both intent and impact. Themes ethics consequences intent morality Mood reflective cautious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - policy making - leadership - social activism Key Concepts moral philosophy causality unintended outcomes Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate the morality of an action? - When should intentions be weighed against consequences? A Different Perspective Intent alone cannot prevent harmful results; outcomes matter more. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Paved With Good Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paved-with-good-intentions/) ## Related quotes > [Forgiveness essentially means giving up your right to make other people pay for the wrongs they have committed against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stephens/forgiveness-essentially-means-giving-up-your-right-to-make-other/) Steve Stephens > [I might have speculated on my chances of going to Heaven; but candidly I did not care. I could not have wept if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apsley-cherry-garrard/i-might-have-speculated-on-my-chances-of-going-to-heaven-but-candidly/) [Apsley Cherry-Garrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apsley-cherry-garrard/) > [Hell is paved with good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But what does it even matter if my intentions are never good? My road to hell isn't paved with good intentions – or bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/but-what-does-it-even-matter-if-my-intentions-are-never-good-my-road/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions, rather than their results. We all know a famous road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/one-of-the-great-mistakes-is-to-judge-policies-and-programs-by-their/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“I disagree with the adage, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Good intentions are powerful mindsets which will drive your actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/i-disagree-with-the-adage-the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The way back will be paved with blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-frazier/they-say-the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-the-way-back/) [T.M. Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-frazier/) > [“He knew as well as we in our own world do that the road to hell is paved with good intentions--but he also knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-knew-as-well-as-we-in-our-own-world-do-that-the-road-to-hell-is/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The path to wisdom does, in fact, begin with a single step. Where people go wrong is in ignoring all the thousands of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-path-to-wisdom-does-in-fact-begin-with-a-single-step-where-people/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't give a damn if I go to hell. I love you Satan. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-don-t-give-a-damn-if-i-go-to-hell-i-love-you-satan-the-road-to-hell/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“A system which looks to the extinction of a race is too abhorrent for a Nation to indulge in,” Grant told Congress in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/a-system-which-looks-to-the-extinction-of-a-race-is-too-abhorrent-for/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Hell isn't merely paved with good intentions; it's walled and roofed with them. Yes, and furnished too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/hell-isn-t-merely-paved-with-good-intentions-it-s-walled-and-roofed/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Savannah. I thought I loved you once, but wicked souls can’t love pure hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silla-webb/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-savannah-i-thought-i/) Silla Webb > [The hell of human suffering, evil and oppression is paved with good intentions. The men who have most injured and oppressed humanity, who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-briffault/the-hell-of-human-suffering-evil-and-oppression-is-paved-with-good/) [Robert Briffault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-briffault/) > [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) ## More by Leila Meacham > [“It was more as if they recognize they were two halves of a whole who'd found their missing. Matt and Rachel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/it-was-more-as-if-they-recognize-they-were-two-halves-of-a-whole-who/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“By remembering that what you cannot undo, you must accept. And in accepting…you will find the grace to forgive yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/by-remembering-that-what-you-cannot-undo-you-must-accept-and-in/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“How many more burdens do you think you can bear alone? How many more years can I go on alone, without you? Our days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/how-many-more-burdens-do-you-think-you-can-bear-alone-how-many-more/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“He ragarded her in surprise. This was a different tune from the one he'd expected to hear, certainly a change from the verse she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/he-ragarded-her-in-surprise-this-was-a-different-tune-from-the-one-he/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“I'm learning not to hope for what I can't control...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/i-m-learning-not-to-hope-for-what-i-can-t-control/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“silence. Finally, he said, “So you and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/silence-finally-he-said-so-you-and/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“Don't be afraid to let it go. Releasing hate does not make you forget what you want always to remember. It does not mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/don-t-be-afraid-to-let-it-go-releasing-hate-does-not-make-you-forget/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) > [“A small part of the South not yet gone with the wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-meacham/a-small-part-of-the-south-not-yet-gone-with-the-wind/) [Leila Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) [Explore all 9 Leila Meacham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-meacham/) ## More Good intentions quotes > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) CallHerShorty > [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have no control over my writing. I have lots of good intentions, but no control. There's a story that wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-no-control-over-my-writing-i-have-lots-of-good-intentions-but/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Justice for some people is an evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-urobuchi/justice-for-some-people-is-an-evil-for-others-good-intentions/) [Gen Urobuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-urobuchi/) > [“There is an important difference between openness and naïveté. Not everyone has good intentions nor means me well. I remind myself I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-is-an-important-difference-between-openness-and-na-vet-not/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“I reach out in love, my hands are guns, my good intentions are completely lethal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-reach-out-in-love-my-hands-are-guns-my-good-intentions-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Start your day with good intentions and set yourself up for a good attitude. It's not what happens to you that matters but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/start-your-day-with-good-intentions-and-set-yourself-up-for-a-good/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“It wasn't good, he wasn't good, he did not have good intentions. I stood there, and he stood there. He breathed out the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-wasn-t-good-he-wasn-t-good-he-did-not-have-good-intentions-i-stood/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“Map-making had never been a precise art on the Discworld. People tended to start off with good intentions and then get so carried away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/map-making-had-never-been-a-precise-art-on-the-discworld-people/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/) Samuel Gridley Howe > [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Neither smiles nor frowns, neither good intentions nor harsh words, are a substitute for strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/neither-smiles-nor-frowns-neither-good-intentions-nor-harsh-words-are/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 568 Good intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions, but what about the wrongs committed for the right reasons? Were they included as well? Life had taught him that anything that starts wrong, ends wrong. 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