"Never let a man imagine that he can pursue a good end by evil means, without sinning against his own soul. The evil effect on himself is certain"

This quote by Robert Southey is a pointer that no matter how honorable the objective, it is never ever acceptable to use immoral or dishonest ways to achieve it. It is important to keep in mind that any action taken with harmful intent will have an unfavorable result on the soul of the individual who dedicates it. Even if the end result is favorable, the methods used to get there will constantly have a long lasting effect on the individual. It is essential to keep in mind that any action taken with the intent of harming another individual will eventually harm the soul of the individual who commits it. This quote serves as a suggestion that it is never ever acceptable to pursue an excellent end by evil ways, as it will constantly have a negative impact on the soul of the person who commits it.