Would you agree that all is well that ends well, or is it a view that is too myopic and simplistic to be true?

Answer 1

Well, although it sounds nice "all is well that ends well" or similarly "the end justifies the means", I don't know if this is always the case. It is perhaps just a way to tidy up a mess, to provide an excuse for immoral behaviour, because it at least turned out ok...Depending on the issue maybe all is not well just because it ends well. For instance, terrible atrocities may be committing during a war. Even if the "good guys" win (& who are the good guys? By the time you wade through the propaganda and rewriting of history to create media heroes who knows?) does it justify horrible things they may have done during the war (killing innocent unarmed people, especially women and children etc)? Some individual acts are inexcusable, even if on the whole, things ended for the best (for the "greater good" -- another sticky expression!)

So yes, the cliche "All's well that ends well" is perhaps a bit too nearsighted and simplistic for potentially complex moral issues. But hey it makes a great name for a Shakespearean comedy...

Answer 2

The one situation I can immediately think of where that cliche would not apply is...

If you were killed or injured by falling or being pushed into a well...

But other than that (and the end of a war) most things that cliche applies to is true...

Signed..."RU4REAL?" (and I'm sure "love & blessings" from Don H., even though I don't know him...)

Answer 3

Its way to simplistic to be true because what is one man's fantasy is another's hell and vice versa.

Answer 4

YES;
even the most disastrous happenings can bring about good things at the end.

Answer 5

it's good for really small or really huge deals. not in between.