"it's the means"

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Anonymous

#364792 Mon, 14 May 07 06:03 PM

Hi,
I don't understand this very well:

' "Can you see and end?"
"Oh, certainly an end. It's the means - it's the means." '

It's from Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley"

Thanks in advance, jo.

Anonymous

Feebs11

#364897 Mon, 14 May 07 09:15 PM

Reference to the saying "the means to an end" - the way in which one reaches a conclusion or achieves an aim.

One person asks if the other can see an end to something; the other person is saying that he can see the end, but not the means of getting to it.

Feebs11

Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006

Veteran Member (5,003)

CalifJim

#364898 Mon, 14 May 07 09:18 PM

and end?

No. an end.

The means and the ends are often paired. The way of reaching a goal (the means) and the goal itself (the end). The exchange is something like this:

-- Can you see the goal?
-- Yes, but not a way of achieving it.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,773)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche