The ends justify their means? A type of meme called a constant.

A lie:

The ends justify their means.

It is a classic justification for the use methods not congruent with the goal or intention set forth.

A truth:

The ends are determined by their means.

If you use means not congruent with a goal or intention, then the goal or intention changes accordingly.

This is an example of a type of meme I call a ‘constant’. Constants fulfill at least one condition: they are valid everywhere in our Cosmos (or Kosmos, if you prefer).