We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Look through the whole history of countries professing the Romish religion, and you will uniformly find the leaven of this besetting and accursed principle of action - that the end will sanction any means.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that some have justified immoral actions by claiming the ends justify the means.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge highlights a critical view of certain ethical principles found within the history of countries adhering to the Roman Catholic faith. He warns against the hazardous justification of immoral actions through the belief that achieving a desired outcome can legitimize any means used to obtain it. This perspective raises important questions about morality, ethics, and the consequences of actions taken in the pursuit of goals.
Themes
EthicsMoralityMeansEndsJustification
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on ethical leadership, one might say, 'As Coleridge warned, we must be cautious about the principle that the end justifies the means.'
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All quotes →Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
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And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
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Often do the spirits stride on before the event; and in today already walks tomorrow.
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Mr. Lyell's system of geology is just half the truth, and no more. He affirms a great deal that is true, and he denies a great deal which is equally true; which is the general characteristic of all systems not embracing the whole truth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
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