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The phrase “the end justifies the means” is often attributed to Niccolò Machiavelli, but it actually originated with the Roman poet Ovid in his Heroides (The Heroines). Still, Machiavelli came close to the idea in The Prince, where he wrote:

“Moreover, in the actions of all men, and most of all of Princes, where there is no tribunal to which we can appeal, we look to results. Wherefore, if a Prince succeeds in establishing and maintaining his authority, the means will always be judged honorable and be approved by everyone.”

In other words, if you hold power and maintain it, history is likely to judge your methods favorably. Yet many psychologists argue that lies and manipulations corrode the liar’s character, eventually coming back to haunt them.

Politics, Lies, and Economics: From a Machiavellian perspective, deception in politics is tolerable, even necessary, if it achieves the desired goal. But the 2008–09 financial crisis shows the dangers of this thinking. Investment bankers traded subprime mortgages, knowing many homeowners could never pay them back. Because the risk was offloaded onto third parties, the bankers enriched themselves while the broader public suffered the fallout. The “means” worked for them, but the “end” was catastrophic for millions.

Is Lying Ever Acceptable? Most ethicists see lying as a form of disrespect. Yet some cases challenge that rule. Consider what happened when the Nazis searched for Anne Frank—her protectors lied and said she was not there. Was that lie justified? Similarly, are people who shelter migrants fleeing violence and poverty acting rightly when they defy the law? Who holds the moral high ground?

The Justification of War: History shows that violence is sometimes perceived as the only viable option.

• The Civil War: The North concluded that only armed conflict could end slavery. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions of civilians paid the price, but slavery was abolished. Was there an alternative to getting this result?
• World War II: When Hitler’s regime could not be stopped internally, global war followed, leading to 50–55 million civilian deaths. Was such devastation the only way to end fascism?

The Power and Limits of Nonviolence: Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance in India mobilized tens of thousands, often at great personal cost. During the Salt March in 1930, more than 60,000 were imprisoned, and many were beaten or killed because the  British didn’t share Gandhi’s approach. Killing and imprisoning those in their way felt justified to them. Gandhi’s movement ultimately led to independence from Britain, but it did not prevent the violent partition between Hindus and Muslims. Could India’s freedom have been won more quickly, more unified, or less bloodily, by other means?

Similarly, in the U.S. Civil Rights movement, two strategies coexisted: Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence and Stokely Carmichael’s militancy. Nonviolent protest gained moral authority and public sympathy, while militant groups, such as the Black Panthers, raised the stakes for federal leaders. Together, the contrasts created pressure that contributed to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Moral Boundaries Today: What about now? Is violence ever justified against those who spread hate, lies, and division? What about political figures who oppose diversity, deny science, and inflame gun culture? Should citizens ever take justice into their own hands?

And what about governance itself?  Do freedom of speech, expression, religion, honest reporting, having privacy, health and sexuality rights, and gun ownership matter to you?  As corporate power expands and authoritarian impulses grow stronger, we must ask: Will an autocratic system provide more freedom than the “messiness” of democracy? Or will resisting such a system lead to violence once again, killing millions? What system of governance will make you feel safe?

The Unsettling Question: History suggests that both violent and nonviolent means can achieve monumental change, but at great cost. Whether the ends ever justify the means is not an abstract puzzle but a pressing ethical dilemma. These are dangerous times when individuals take the law into their own hands. Yet, I find our governance both scary and confusing. Our choices must be studied carefully, because their consequences will shape not only the present but the generations that follow.

When I consider these matters, I strive to keep love at the core of my decisions.  It’s a calming thought that helps me understand those who think differently from me.

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Start a conversation. Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Art is always for sale. To purchase one of the thirty trees or a canvas print of them, go to the works page on my website at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/works. Stroll down to Arboredum and/or Canvas prints.

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References:

Philosophy website (2014) Retrieved from https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/14881/where-did-machiavelli-say-that-the-ends-justify-the-means

Mintz, S.  (2018) Do the ends Justify the Means?Ehics Sage. Retrieved from https://www.ethicssage.com/2018/04/do-the-ends-justify-the-means.html

BBC website (20235) How a college dropout from the suburbs became MAGA star Charlie Kirk. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33r4kjez6no

website 92026) Research Starters: Worldwide Deaths in World War Ii. The National World War II Museum.Retrieved from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-worldwide-deaths-world-war

Britannica Website (2025) Resistance and results in Mahatma Gandhi. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahatma-Gandhi/Resistance-and-results

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How should homeless and runaway youth be treated? Like truants> Do they belong in the criminal justice system, or should they be helped to overcome the sordid background they want to escape?

Over the Peanut Fence is available in paperback and ebook formats in bookstores and online. To purchase on Amazon go to https://www.amazon.com/Over-Peanut-Fence-Barriers-Homeless-ebook/dp/B07Q7SLRM3