Ends And Means Poem by gershon hepner

The ends may justify the means
providing you achieve your ends,
but don’t expect to hear loud paens
of praise from any of your friends
unless they are the end that you
befriend like Machiavelli’s Prince,
concealing that you take your cue
and principles from what he hints.

Jason Zinoman reviews a sex comedy, “The Mandrake, ” by Machiavelli that is being produced in Manhattan [“Dashing Through a Sex Comedy by Machiavelli (Yes, That’s Machiavelli) ], ” NYT, January 24,2008:
In the end it’s Machiavelli as sex comedy, which would be fine, I guess, if the actors delivered the belly laughs. The ends may justify the means, but only, of course, if you achieve the ends.


1/24/08