"The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end"
- Leon Trotsky
About this Quote
This quote by Leon Trotsky suggests that the methods utilized to achieve a specific end can be justified if completion itself is warranted. Simply put, the methods used to reach a goal can be ethically acceptable if the goal itself is morally acceptable. This implies that the morality of an action must be evaluated based on the outcome of the action, rather than the action itself. For instance, if a person devotes a criminal activity in order to save a life, the criminal activity can be warranted if the life is saved. This quote motivates people to believe seriously about the morality of their actions and to consider the potential consequences of their actions. Eventually, it suggests that the end validates the methods, as long as the end is justified.
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