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Meaning. A common meaning of the phrase is that wrongdoings or evil actions are often undertaken with good intentions; or that good intentions, when acted upon, may have unintended consequences. [2] An example is the introduction of Asian carp into the United States in the 1970s to control algal blooms in captivity.
What's the meaning of the phrase 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'? The intention to engage in good acts often fails. It points up the principle that there is no merit in good intentions unless they are acted on.
Jul 10, 2020 · What Does the Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions Mean? In general, this common idiom and proverb expresses the idea that good intentions don’t necessarily guarantee good results, and that good intentions matter little—if at all—if they don’t end in good outcomes.
- Maggie Cramer
The proverb the road to hell is paved with good intentions is a rather somber prompt that good intentions are just not enough and can sometimes lead to negative outcomes because they weren’t acted on or followed through with.
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Meaning: Most sources interpret this expression as meaning that good intentions are worthless unless followed up with action. Some offer an alternative interpretation: that actions that are taken with good intent can have unintended negative consequences. Background:
The road to hell is paved with good intentions is an idiom or proverb. [1] It is about the difference between what someone intends to do and the outcome of their actions. In other words, the consequences of one's actions can be awful and tragic instead of the good intentions that lead one to do them. [2]
This expression was used by the writer Samuel Johnson and is mentioned in his biography in an entry dated 16 April 1775, in the form `hell is paved with good intentions'. The idea is that good intentions do not guarantee a good outcome. See also: good, hell, intention, pave, road, to.
