Aphorism #66 See that Things end well.

[Admin]

Aphorism #66 See that Things end well.

Some regard more the rigour of the game than the winning of it, but to the world the discredit of the final failure does away with any recognition of the previous care. The victor need not explain. The world does not notice the details of the measures employed; but only the good or ill result. You lose nothing if you gain your end. A good end gilds everything, however unsatisfactory the means. Thus at times it is part of the art oflife to transgress the rules of the art, if you cannot end well otherwise.


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[cafolini]

Don't complicate things with stupid, intricate questions as to the means. Not that the end justify the means. That's not what he's saying. But it could happen that in your shaky and dumb imagination you might construct a lot that is not there. Look at the end achieved.
Thus, it is the end that does not justify the means you know diddly-squad about. Did Hitler have a good end? No. But we did. The true victor needs not explain. The achievement makes it obvious.