Does "end" mean "result/outcome" or "intention"?

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/27713

: END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS -- "The Greek playwright Sophocles wrote in Electra (c 409 B.C.), 'The end excuses any evil,' a thought later rendered by the Roman poet Ovid as 'The result justifies the deed' in 'Heroides' (c. 10 B.C.)." From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993).

: Another source explains the phrase as meaning: "Anything is acceptable if it leads to a successful result." First use in the United States: "Diary" (1657) by Michael Wigglesworth (1631-1705), American clergyman and poet. "The means justify the end" is a variation. From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

: A good outcome excuses any wrongs committed to attain it. For example, He's campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end will justify the means, or The officer tricked her into admitting her guilt--the end sometimes justifies the means. This proverbial (and controversial) observation dates from ancient times, but in English it was first recorded only in 1583.

所有跟帖： 

• 你這是從旁觀者的角度說 -賈革命- ♂ (389 bytes) () 07/23/2009 postreply 12:52:02

• 拋開你的英語理解不說，你這是廢話。 -UberAlles- ♂ (170 bytes) () 07/23/2009 postreply 13:09:51

• 是不幹我事，咱倆本來就是倆閑人在網上磨牙 -賈革命- ♂ (42 bytes) () 07/23/2009 postreply 13:26:14