“The principle that the end justifies the means is and remains the only rule of political ethics; anything else is just a vague chatter and melts away between one’s fingers.”

Source: Darkness at Noon

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The principle that the end justifies the means is and remains the only rule of political ethics; anything else is just …" by Arthur Koestler?
Arthur Koestler photo
Arthur Koestler 25
Hungarian-British author and journalist 1905–1983

Related quotes

Leon Trotsky photo

“A means can be justified only by its end. But the end in its turn needs to be justified”

Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Marxist revolutionary from Russia

Source: Their Morals and Ours (1938)
Context: A means can be justified only by its end. But the end in its turn needs to be justified, From the Marxist point of view, which expresses the historical interests of the proletariat, the end is justified if it leads to increasing the power of man over nature and to the abolition of the power of man over man.

Saul D. Alinsky photo

“The ninth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition as being unethical.”

Saul D. Alinsky (1909–1972) American community organizer and writer

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 35

Paulo Coelho photo

“A Warrior knows that the ends do not justify the means. Because there are no ends, there are only means…”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Source: Warrior of the Light

Saul D. Alinsky photo
Jim Morrison photo
Leon Trotsky photo

“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”

Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Marxist revolutionary from Russia

Source: Their Morals and Ours

Howard S. Becker photo
Mohammad Khatami photo

Related topics