Up@dawn 2.0

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Do the Ends Really Justify the Means

The popular phrase “the ends justify the means” really grates on me. It’s basically saying that it doesn’t matter what you do if you reach your goal- I don’t believe that’s true. I feel you should deserve to be where you are, and get there by legally and morally-acceptable means. Meeting your goal doesn’t mean you deserve it. Personally, I feel that it is more important to be where you deserve, and relish in what you earned, even if it was not your original goal. It’s better than lying and deceiving your way to the end.
Life is a journey, not a destination. I know it sounds cheesy, but it is so true. Every second of our lives takes us to an unknown. I feel that is only more proof that it doesn’t matter where you end as long as your journey was honest, truthful, and enriching.
This idea brings me to another popular saying- “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” While in theory I agree with this, it is on the condition that the journey was positive and beneficial.
I suppose I’m an oldie at heart, because I thought of ANOTHER saying that relates to this topic. “Stop and smell the roses.” To me, this tells me to enjoy myself, and focus on the good in life on the few chances you get to observe it. Watch a sunset/sunrise, go take a walk in the woods, do something that makes you feel good! While you’re there, pick up some trash, help a turtle cross the road. Yes, it sounds silly, all of those things exist for us to take advantage of- in the way that benefits everyone.

As I said before, life is a journey, and I fully intend to make the most of it.

3 comments:

  1. I love all these quotes you used! Yes they are cheesy indeed, but they certainly convey the point better, and in an artistically metaphorical sense than regular words can. I personally use the phrase "the ends justify the means" for a lot of situations, but always as a question to myself rather than a justification for my actions. I say "DO the ends justify the means" and that gives me a sense of reality when it comes to making tough decisions by directly comparing the benefit with the possible consequences. (H2)

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  2. Kaite Berry H0112:20 PM CDT

    I love the way you used quotes throughout to explain your point really well. I agree with what you said except for one hook and that is the legally part. Morally I believe that your life should be rich with these moral choices and the act to do right rather than wrong, but I feel that laws in societies prevent some people from truly living their life's journey. Like how can we expect women who are owned by their husbands in the eastern nations to live up to their full life's potential?

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