“There is no greater fallacy than the belief that aims and purposes are one thing, while methods and tactics are another… All human experience teaches that methods and means cannot be separated from the ultimate aim.”

The end does not necessarily justify the means.

I'm not sure we can even measure this, for those who often employ the most underhanded and questionable means rarely tell us what their true aims are... King George will never reveal what true goals exist for his actions (democracy in the Middle East or Armaggeddon or just profit for big business), and yet his means are clearly flawed and questionable (illegal wire-tapping, torture, etc)... that he declares that his goals are pure does not make it so, especially when he chooses the paths that he walks which prevents us from truely knowing what those goals are...

This is obvious. Often the means exceed the stated goals but are in fact perfectly designed for the secret agenda.

Reston, your response supports this quote...yet you rate it thumbs down. So, if you deny it, then it won't be true???

"No greater fallacy..."? Perhaps there are greater fallacies. Nevertheless, sometimes one is left with little choice. There is always some choice, but it gets to the point where all choices are ugly.

Although I have to assume that her observation is colored by the diabolical "methods and tactics" used by the State Security organs of the Soviet Union between 1917 and the date of this quote, allegedly applied to purge the nation of undesirable elements, but which had the reverse effect.

But.....but, it's for the children...