'The ends justify the means' means that the end result will validate what you had to do to get there. It is usually used it situations that the 'means' are difficult.

Many people hold as a general principle that "the ends never justify the means." Those who hold this view would say that Stalin's ends did not justify his means.

There are people who believe that certain ends are so important that anything is justified if it furthers those ends. If they supported his goals and thought them important enough, they would say that his ends did justify his means. Others would disagree, either because they do not think his goals important enough or because they oppose his goals completely.

Usually

In an democracy, the means do not justify the ends. Even if a certain end is considered beneficial to the country, the people still have to be consulted.