6.14.2011

Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, Page 510

 

Explaining Machiavelli’s political view:

“But there is also, in politics, the question of means. It is futile to pursue a political purpose by methods that are bound to fail; if the end is held good, we must choose means adequate to its acheivement.

“The question of means can be treated in a purely scientific manner, without regard to the goodness or badness of the ends. ‘Success’ means the achievement of your purpose, whatever it may be.

“If there is a science of success it can be studied just as well in the successes of the wicked as in those of the good — indeed better, since the examples of successful sinners are more numerous than those of successful saints.

“But the science, once established, will be just as useful to the saint as to the sinner. For the saint, if he concerns himself with politics, must wish, just as the sinner does, to achieve success.”

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Filed under: Overheard



1 Comment »

  1. Fancy way of saying the ends justify the means. Here\’s how Blondie would say (sing) it:

    \"One Way Or Another\"

    One way or another I\’m gonna find ya
    I\’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
    One way or another I\’m gonna win ya
    I\’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
    One way or another I\’m gonna see ya
    I\’m gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha
    One day, maybe next week
    I\’m gonna meetcha, I\’m gonna meetcha, I\’ll meetcha
    I will drive past your house
    And if the lights are all down
    I\’ll see who\’s around

    One way or another I\’m gonna find ya
    I\’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
    One way or another I\’m gonna win ya
    I\’ll getcha, I\’ll getcha
    One way or another I\’m gonna see ya
    I\’m gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha
    One day, maybe next week
    I\’m gonna meetcha, I\’ll meetcha

    And if the lights are all out
    I\’ll follow your bus downtown
    See who\’s hanging out

    One way or another I\’m gonna lose ya
    I\’m gonna give you the slip, a slip of the lip or another
    I\’m gonna lose ya, I\’m gonna trick ya, I\’ll trick ya
    One way or another I\’m gonna lose ya
    I\’m gonna trick ya trick ya trick ya trick ya
    One way or another I\’m gonna lose ya
    I\’m gonna give you the slip

    I\’ll walk down the mall
    Stand over by the wall
    Where I can see it all
    Find out who ya call
    Lead you to the supermarket checkout
    Some specials and rat food, get lost in the crowd

    One way or another I\’m gonna getcha, I\’ll getcha, I\’ll getcha getcha getcha getcha
    (Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)
    One way or another I\’m gonna getcha, I\’ll getcha, I\’ll getcha getcha getcha getcha
    (Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)
    One way or another I\’m gonna getcha, I\’ll getcha, I\’ll getcha getcha getcha getcha
    (Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)

    Comment by Let It Bleed — 6.14.2011 @ 3:01 pm

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