Have you ever heard the idiom the road to hell is paved with good intentions? If so, you may have wondered what this phrase means or how it could be used in day to day conversation. We are going to take a look at both of these musings as well as looking at a little bit about the history of the term and where it first came from.
The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions
The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions Meaning
The term the road to hell is paved with good intentions refers to the notion that bad situations were never intended to be that way and were always intended to be good. It refers to the idea that one can mean well but unless the appropriate actions are taken, nothing good will come as a result.
Origin of this idiomatic expression
The origin of the phrase the road to hell is paved with good intentions is from a French statement made by Saint Bernard.
“The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions” Examples
Examples in Statements
We are now going to take a look at some of the sentences in which you are likely to hear or see the term the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The first statement is being made in a new report about a natural disaster which has ruined a town.
- The town governors had planned to make the town flood-proof but had instead spent the money on a Christmas carnival, they claim that their intentions were good but the townspeople are saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The next statement is being made by a mother to her son.
- You might plan to complete your college assignment but will you do it? After all the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Conversation Examples
There are many conversations in which the proverb the road to hell is paved with good intentions might appear. Let’s now take a look at examples of times you might hear it.
The first conversation is taking place between a boss and his employee.
- Person 1: “I am so sorry that I messed up this deal.”
- Person 2: “What are your excuses?”
- Person 1: “I didn’t spend enough time working on my speech, I had intended to but I didn’t.”
- Person 2: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
The following conversation is happening between a teacher and a student.
- Person 1: “Why is that you keep turning up late? You are never going to get the grades you are capable of if you are not here.”
- Person 2: “I keep intending to but something always gets in the way.”
- Person 2: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions, you need to start acting.”
Other Ways to Say the Idiom
There are other ways in which you might express the term the road to hell is paved with good intentions, here are some examples of how you could do this.
- To mean well
- Actions speak louder than words
The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions | Image
Last Updated on June 17, 2021