Il fine giustifica i mezzi

Common Italian expression

Pronunciation
Literal translationThe goal justifies the means
English translationThe end justifies the means
MeaningWhat really counts is the end result and you shouldn’t worry about what you have to do to get there

Example

Non tutti prendono decisioni in base alla morale. Il fine giustifica i mezzi.Not everyone makes decisions based on morality. The end justifies the means.

Where does this idiom come from?

It is thought that this proverb comes from the work The Prince (Il principe) by the Italian writer Niccolò Machiavelli‘s, who said: “Faccia adunque un principe conto di vincere e mantenere lo stato; i mezzi saranno sempre giudicati onorevoli e da ciascuno lodati.”


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