“The ends justify the means” is an [[ethical]] statement which implies that intentions are all that matter. If the end is a greater good than the means to achieve it then it is worthwhile.
As I get older I’m not sure that I believe that the end always justify the means, for the means tend to shape the character of the end, and I’m not sure if this is the kind of world I’d like to live in.
For example, it’s argued by [[Leninists]] that mass terror was required to achieve [[communism]]. If this is true, such terror ended up shaping the character of the Soviet state, to the detriment of its population.
As [[Zizek]] says somewhere:
If we are told we need to break a few eggs to get an omelette, I would at least like to see the omelette.