With allusion to romans iii. 8 (AV) And not‥Let us do evil, that good may come.
We must not doo euil, that good may come of it: yet the lawes in permitting certain reasonable gain to be received for the loane of money lent‥haue not doone much amisse.
[1583 P. Stubbes Anatomie of Abuses K5]
If I knew any thing whereby to justify the present proceeding, I should not conceal it; but we must not do evil that good may come of it.
[1689 G. Bulkeley Letter in Coll. Connecticut Hist. Society (1860) I. 59]
Walsingham's agents‥did evil that good might come, thinking Mary's death alone would ensure them from Pope and Spaniard.
[1882 C. M. Yonge Unknown to History II. ix.]
What‥were the ethics? A promise made to a silly child, was it binding? You mustn't do evil that good may come of it‥but the boy was only fourteen and practically half-witted, and Lisa was an absurd little Quixote.
[1950 J. Cannan Murder Included 127]
Related to: good and evil; ways and means
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