Quotes · Skopia

15 quotes

SortEditorial Year Length

Topic·Justifications and rationales✕clear

Philosophical literature

Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.

1893

★ 1.9

A man always has two reasons for what he does-a good one, and the real one.

1930

★ 1.9

The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.

Condoleezza Rice

2002

★ 1.9

I never knew a man who had better motives for all the trouble he caused.

The Quiet American · 1955

★ 2.0

Play · Comedy (play)

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose!

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice · 1598

★ 2.4

Film · Drama (film) · Satire (film) · Drama · Satire

Everyone has their reasons.

The Rules of the Game · 1939

★ 2.8

Historical literature

As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy.

Christopher Dawson

1942

★ 3.4

Religious literature · Philosophical literature

The end justifies the means.

Hermann Busenbaum

1650

★ 3.6

Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.

George Savile, Lord Halifax

1750

★ 3.6

Essay · Magazine · Political literature

A means can be justified only by its end. But the end in its turn needs to be justified.

1938

★ 3.6

Film · Sports comedy (film) · Comedy (film) · Sports comedy · Comedy

I was on this tour for one reason, money. But now I got a new reason, kickin' your ass!

Happy Gilmore · 1996

★ 3.7

The most exquisite Folly is made of Wisdom spun too fine.

Benjamin Franklin

1746

★ 3.9

Play · Tragedy (play)

I must be cruel only to be kind.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet · 1616

★ 4.5

The end must justify the means.

Hans Carvel · 1700

★ 5.3

Play · Comedy (play)

His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice · 1598

★ 5.5