The End Does Not Justify The Means

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In an unjust society, where people live in hunger and want and labour with little or no results, where the relevance of a man is weighed by the amount of his money and material possessions, the Machiavellian saying of: The end justifies the means becomes a norm.

The end justifies the means implies that bad and wrong methods are acceptable provided the outcome is good and beneficial. It suggests that immoral acts leading to moral ends are good and just. This principles focuses on the outcome at any cost with no attention to the source and origin of a thing.

This principle leads to desperation and readiness to do anything that results to productivity regardless of the means. This accounts for the high level of crime and vices in the society.

A young man, after school finds no job and means of livelyhood. This makes him an subject of mockery in his community. He is seen as a failure and disappointment to his family. He is willing to do anything to make money. He decides to go into robbery provided he becomes rich, not minding the consequences.

A lady from a very poor family that could barely feed a day, from a family that could not send her and her siblings to school and provide thier basic needs, vows to do anything to liberate her family from poverty. Out of desperation, she goes into prostitution. She sleeps with men not minding the dangers involved.

Others go into cultism, drugs, childtrafficking, rituals, cyber crime etc and all immoral, wicked and unjust acts all because of affluence and money.

All these, regardless of how piteable and pathetic they are, does not justify their means.

What is bad, is bad regardless of the number of persons involved. The cause of a bad act, does not justify the act. The outcome of and unjust act does not make the act just.

The end does not justify the means because it robs people off thier respect and dignity. It reduces the human person to a level of the subconscious.

The Machiavellian principle robs people off thier pride and prestige. It denies people thier peace and rest of mind, it exposes people to dangers and causes havoc in the society. It robs people thier joy and happiness.

What is the aim of getting rich when you cannot sleep in peace, why have all the affluence when you lack inner peace? Why become wealthy when you canot enjoy the money with family and loved ones, why the relevance when you are always in fear?

All these, cannot be compared to a peaceful life, they are not worth the many risk and dangers we expose ourselves to. Let us be satisfied with the little we have. Our dignity, pride, peace and worth are more important than silver and gold.

There is dignity in labour. Be proud of whatever you are doing because your peace lies in it.