Can Agatha’s End Justify The Means?

Dear lovely people,

Agatha was in total confusion when she found herself at the entrance of the Pharmacy. She wondered what she was doing there especially as she hadn’t money to buy the medication prescribed to her mother. Her mother had gone into a crisis earlier that evening throwing everybody around her into panic. Agatha’s mother was diagnosed of diabetes a month earlier. Standing there and looking into the crowded counter, she noticed a young lady was buying the same medicine she badly needed, it happened that in the confusion at the counter, the lady forgot the plastic bag of medicine she just paid for when she left. Agatha went into action, there was no time to think. She walked into the room, grabbed the bag and was out of the room before anybody could notice. She headed for home at top speed, tears coursing down her cheeks and hoping she will be able to safe her mother’s life.

My question then: Should you use bad or immoral methods as long as you accomplish something good by using them? Agatha is not alone, I know countless people who have started what they will describe their dream businesses by embezzling the funds from the organization where they worked. Almost all governments in the world have such people who swindle state funds for personal aggrandizement consoling themselves "the end justifies the means." In my country some of the politicians believe that the end justifies the means, since most often than not, they use all kinds of despicable means to get elected or appointed to different posts of responsibility.

Is it really true that the end justifies the means? Well, the answer to this question greatly depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. It’s my thinking that if the goals are good and noble, and the means you use to achieve them are also good and noble, then yes, the ends do justify the means. But unfortunately, that’s not it in most situations. Most people actually use it as an excuse to achieve their goals through any means necessary, no matter how immoral, illegal or unpleasant the means may be. Such people, customarily do something wrong to achieve a positive end and justifying the wrongdoing by pointing to a good outcome.

In your quest for success, seek out the people who have achieved their dreams and talk with them or read their stories. Find out what they learned from their journey, and what they like best about achieving their dream. Just like Confucius says, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” Never allow yourself to be misled by the expression: “It doesn’t matter how you get what you want as long as you get it” or you will hit the bottom sooner than later.

In all you do, let the words of Jim Rohn sink within you “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”