Common Italian expression
| Pronunciation | |
| Literal translation | The goal justifies the means |
| English translation | The end justifies the means |
| Meaning | What 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.”
Related lessons
- giustificare (to justify)
- fine (end, goal)
- mezzo (mean)
- definite articles
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