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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread forgotten word #792 03/21/2000 3:20 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1 joflo stranger joflo stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1 Does anyone know the word for the process whereby the end justifies the means? I knew it years ago and would like to use it at work but I can't remember it. Please help. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: forgotten word #793 03/22/2000 11:18 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 I think you want Machiavellian according to the Collins Dictionary (UK edition) Machiavelli Niccolo - 1469-1527, Florentine Statesman and political philosopher, secretary to the war council of the Florentine republic (1498-1512). His most famous work is "Il Principe" (The Prince 1532). Machiavellian (also spelt Machivelian), sometimes not capitalised adj. 1. of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral and opportunist 2. a cunning, amoral and opportunist person, esp a politician We usually attribute the idea that "the means always justifies the end" to Machiavelli but judging by the definition above, either a) that is a gross simplification of what he said/did or b) the Collins Dictionary is hedging its bets in case his descendants sue for libel. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: forgotten word #794 03/23/2000 12:55 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 14 sydney australia whalemeat stranger whalemeat stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 14 sydney australia I don't know a particular word. That the end justifies the means is sometimes called the Jesuitical plea - a reference that is understandably held to be both offensive and inaccurate by Jesuits. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,915 Posts230,273 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 26 A C Bowden 7 handymanhome 1 Tony Hood 1 Forix Richard 1 John Flex 1 John Fox 1 JerryC 1 Wood Delivery 1 Trusted Roofing 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,131 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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