"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"
the quote doesn't make any sense too me, does anyone understand it? Can you give a thorough explanation??
2007-11-10 23:29:29 · 16 answers · asked by Mr. Nobody 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Benjamin Franklin said that.
The most evil actions that have been committed by men, were done by those that honestly had good intentions while doing them.
The scientists working on the atom bomb that killed the people in Hiroshima, had nothing but peace in their minds for example.
Most serial killers feel that they are actually helping mankind by destroying those that they do.
That is what he meant by saying that.
2007-11-10 23:32:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It's a proverb and so it isn't true in all situations but has some general truth to it. Usually it refers to someone who has a good intention but who doesn't fully consider the best way to accomplish their goal and who doesn't anticipate the negative consequences that may result from trying to do good without acquiring more knowledge about the situation and the people to whom they would be a blessing.
A simple example might be someone who is on their way to the dump seeing what they perceive as junk on their neighbors porch and deciding that they would do them a favor by throwing it away for them. Later on they find out that the objects they took to the dump were family heirlooms left for a relative who was coming by to pick them up. Since they didn't take the time to find out what their neighbors desire was their good intention went awry.
2007-11-11 07:35:50 · answer #2 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, sometimes in the process of trying to do something good for someone you wind up harming them.
The normal response is 'I did it with good intentions. That does not undo the wrong that was done.
The counter response is 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'; meaning bad things done for good reasons will get you to hell just as quick as bad things done for bad reasons.
I personally do not agree with that concept.
We are told that if we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves, we will see Jesus in heaven.
We all make mistakes, but we will not be sent to hell for making them.
grace2u
2007-11-11 07:49:50 · answer #3 · answered by Theophilus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I understand this to mean is that many people think that they are ok and are living a good life, but do not have salvation. They have good intentions, they mean well, but are not saved and thus are still going to hell.
Just because someone is nice to others, doesn't drink, smoke or any of the other things that people say keep you out of heaven, doesn't mean they are going there. One has to have repented of their sins (whatever they are) and walk in the newness of life. Believe that He is God.
2007-11-11 07:36:12 · answer #4 · answered by Indya M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it means that *often* nothing much good comes from being an interfering busybody...
'good intentions' include wars, tyranny, social engineering, electric shock treatment, indeed all manner of ill-considered schemes...
*UPDATE: How someone gleaned 'sloth' from the proverb is really beyond me. Anyone care to explain?
ARGH! I GET IT!!!
LOL, for 30 years I've applied the incorrect meaning to this proverb! The shame...
2007-11-11 07:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There will be a lot of good ( nice ) people in hell. Thinking I'm not that bad of a person and never hurt or killed any one .Romans 3:23 " For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God ".
2007-11-11 07:34:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have all the intention in the world of giving your life to Jesus, but it will not get you into heaven. Actions speak louder than words. It is the action of giving your life to Jesus, not the intention. You can always have good intentions without actually doing them.
2007-11-11 07:38:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An extreme example would be Nazism. People backed Hitler because he was a good man who would solve Germany's problems and make them a strong country again. People saw the Third Reich as a good thing, their support of it lead to the deaths of millions.
2007-11-11 07:35:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
From my point of view, it means that a lot of people try to do "good things" but, they come out wrong... mostly because of the lack of information they have, or the limited sources they have before making an actual good decision.
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2007-11-11 07:34:32 · answer #9 · answered by ArnoldoTGarza 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actions speak louder than words. People are always trying to get points for their intentions rather than their ability to carry them through. It's one of my pet peeves. Don't tell me what you plan to accomplish; what HAVE you accomplished.
2007-11-11 07:39:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God judges us not only by our actions and inactions, but by our intentions.
So that quote was obviously not coming from someone familiar with the issue.
2007-11-11 07:36:23 · answer #11 · answered by Digital Age 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋