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This question has been raised and thoroughly discussed: "How to characterize the phrase, 'The ends justify the means.'" I wish to add a thought. As I was writing a book for publication, I came upon the same question about the phrase. Unlike the other previous answers in a well-thought-out thread, I concluded the phrase—based on the original question—is best described as a "proposition" since Machiavelli was a diplomat. The statement doesn't rise to a principal because it is debatable; however, it does spur an enduring (political and moral) discussion and is, therefore, a proposition.

Jeffsbooks
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  • This would benefit from a link to the original discussion and some clarity about what you want from an answer here. – KillingTime Oct 17 '23 at 16:46
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    This maxim is generally incorrectly attributed to Nicolas Machiavelli: his work "The Prince" expresses this philosophy in detail, but without ever using this expression. Some persons attribute the sentence "la fin justifie les moyens" to Philippe Van Den Clyte, lord of Commynes, who wanted to justify his betrayal. But, I can't likewise find the adage in his memories. – Graffito Oct 17 '23 at 17:33
  • The original cite was https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/420078/is-there-a-name-for-the-expression-the-end-justifies-the-means – Jeffsbooks Oct 17 '23 at 18:47
  • You mean that none of the definitions posted in the answers to the original question suits you? In case you can add your own to the original question. – Gio Oct 17 '23 at 19:39
  • Does this answer your question? Is there a name for the expression "the end justifies the means?" – Gio Oct 17 '23 at 19:41
  • Graffito's reply is well taken. @Gio Many of the originally posted definitions made sense to me, but none exactly met my sense of the phrase "The ends..." And I couldn't add my two cents to the original question because the thread had long been closed. I'm new here and do not have the reputation to comment. – Jeffsbooks Oct 17 '23 at 21:47
  • @Jeffsbooks but I think you can add your own answer to the original question. – Gio Oct 18 '23 at 19:07
  • @Gio Other than recasting the question as I did, what's the workaround to posting on the original closed thread as a member working toward reputation? – Jeffsbooks Oct 19 '23 at 21:03
  • A reposted a question will just be closed as a duplicate. An answer to the original question will remain visible to future visitors. That’s how SE works. – Gio Oct 20 '23 at 08:58
  • @Gio Thank you. I appreciate that. – Jeffsbooks Oct 20 '23 at 19:15
  • When you post an answer to an old question, it will appear on top of the “active questions” list so that users can see it and up/downvote etc. So, no matter how old a question is, new additions will be immediately visible. – Gio Oct 21 '23 at 13:06

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