Among the mass of winged phraseological combinations there are those in which deep folk or philosophical wisdom is hidden. Their use in speech often seems ambiguous and can cause intellectual debate. Some catchphrases and expressions of this type may even have several sound variations, but at the same time retain the same meaning. We will consider one of these phraseological units in this article. Let's find out its meaning and origin. We will also look at how this phrase is used.

Expression value

I have heard the most unexpected interpretations of the phrase about good intentions paving the road to hell. Closest to true meaning there is a point of view of this kind: some person is constantly planning to do something useful, kind, but things don’t go beyond these intentions - either there is no time, then there is no opportunity, then the turnover becomes boring. So these plans remain plans, that is, they turn into undone good deeds. Each of them is a cobblestone in the said pavement leading to hell. Because if the intended good deeds are not done, space appears for evil deeds, that is, for sin.

Often, good-natured plans may not at all relate to any specific matter in relation to another person - to help, look after, protect, but simply to become better yourself. These intentions are usually the most difficult to achieve. That is, you need to not intend to do it, but do it.

The phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is used in the case when, trying to carry out some completely humane thing, a person achieves the completely opposite result, often with negative consequences.

Expression Variations

The Russian language, like a living being, reacts sensitively to all sorts of changes and additions: words and their meanings change, familiar phraseological units begin to sound differently, then acquiring new meaning, then preserving the content, but “dressing” in a new verbal form.

The authors of catchphrases, perhaps, do not claim such a title, having once uttered a phrase that will be famous in the future. So, the phrase about good intentions, leaving them and their " final goal"in its composition, sometimes changes the verb form. Then the expression might sound like this: the road to hell is paved, paved, paved. This does not change the meaning.

The road to hell and the path to it can be paved or paved with these intentions, or hell is already paved with them.

There are also interesting variations. One of them sounds something like this: “From good intentions (good intentions) the path straight to hell.”

Origin of the phrase and its variants

The history of popular expressions quite often refers us to different sources. So, according to one version, the phrase about good intentions goes back to the saying of the English writer Samuel Johnson, who once said: “Hell is paved with good intentions.” This is mentioned by his biographer, author of two-volume memoirs about the writer James Boswell.

However, there is another point of view, which attributes the origin of this expression to the 17th century Anglican priest and metaphysical poet George Herbert, for whom it sounds like this: “Hell is full of good intentions and desires.” This quote seems to emphasize the meaning of the Bible saying contained in the Book of Jesus. It says: “The path of sinners is paved with stones, but at the end of it is the pit of hell.”

The second assumption is considered the most likely, since the author seems to illustrate with this phrase one of the main points of Protestant ethics. Its essence is that true faith certainly leads to the creation of good deeds, and not dreams of them.

Use of expression

The phraseology “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is quite often used not only in literature and journalism, but also in colloquial speech. You can also hear an abbreviated, “proverbial” version of it: “with good intentions,” which implies the same ending with the same meaning.

As observations have shown, in the first, biblical sense, the expression is used no less often than in the “everyday” sense. In the first case, the emphasis is on the fact that, according to the Apostle James, faith without works is dead, that is, unfulfilled intentions, no matter how good they may be, are the result of weak faith and block the road to salvation.

This point of view seems very attractive and quite justified. This phrase is missing the word “unfulfilled,” which should come before the word “intentions.”

And in everyday life, the opinion that when raising a child, you try to do everything possible and impossible for him is eloquent. With the best intentions. But a completely unworthy person can grow up. Therefore, before trying to do something “good”, it would not be a bad idea to figure out what is truly good for this or that person.

Synonyms

There is an interesting phenomenon regarding the phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” A fairly ancient saying, and even having a religious connotation, unexpectedly acquired a synonym in the 20th century in connection with economic problems in Russia.

“We wanted the best, but it turned out as always” - this expression of V. S. Chernomyrdin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Federation, has acquired a synonymous meaning of the phrase about good intentions in the sense that implies a desire to do a good deed, but its result turns out to be completely opposite to what was expected . In this context, we were talking about the characteristics of the progress of monetary reform in the country in 1993. The phrase soon became truly popular and is often used instead of “good intentions.”

Conclusion

Catchphrases and expressions are born in the depths of life. The history of mankind is rich in many examples when seemingly good intentions led not only to opposite results, but also to tragedies. How many utopian ideas were invented, revolutionary programs were developed, parties were organized, some radical movements were carried out supposedly to improve everyone’s life. But in the end there were crusades, and Bolshevism, and fascism, designed to bring “happiness”, if not to all of humanity, then to the peoples or races “programmed” for it.

And from a theological point of view, the meaning of the saying “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is that there are much more good intentions in life than the same deeds.

Dear Alexander!

There is no such expression in the Bible, but you can read more fully about the origin of this saying:

With good intentions The road to hell is paved

From English : Hell is paved with good intentions

According to Bowell, biographer of the English writer, critic, essayist and lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), it was the latter who once said this phrase: “Hell is paved with good intentions.”

But she apparently has a primary source, which, one might assume, was well known to S. Johnson. This idea, although in a slightly different form, is first found in English literature in the theologian George Herbert (d. 1632) in his book Jacula prudentium. There he wrote: “Hell is full of good meaning and wishes.”

The words of George Herbert would become widely known in the 19th century, when in the novel “The Bride of Lamermoor” (1819) Walter Scott forced one of his characters, an English theologian, to repeat them, whose prototype was obviously J. Herbert.

Considering that in the Bible, in the book of Jesus, son of Sirach (chapter 21 v. 11) there is a phrase: “The path of sinners is paved with stones, but at the end of it is the pit of hell,” it is possible that Samuel Johnson’s phrase was born on the basis of this Biblical Thoughts of George Herbert.

Allegorically: about good, but poorly executed intentions, which usually leads to the opposite result.

The closest biblical expression is found in the Book of Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Also in the above source, a non-canonical book of the Bible is quoted - the Book of Sirach 21:11: " The path of sinners is paved with stones, but at the end of it is an abyss hell."

God's blessings

Alla

Read more on the topic “Words and Expressions from the Bible”:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions
From English: Hell is paved with good intentions.
According to Boswell, biographer of the English writer, critic, essayist and lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), it is precisely because
the latter once said this phrase: “Hell is paved with good intentions.”
But she apparently has a primary source, which, one might assume, was well known to S. Johnson. This idea, although in a slightly different form, is first found in English literature in the theologian George Herbert (d. 1632) in his book Jacula prudentium. There he wrote: “Hell is full of good meaning and wishes.”
The words of George Herbert would become widely known in the 19th century, when in the novel “The Bride of Lamermoor” (1819) Walter Scott forced one of his characters, an English theologian, to repeat them, whose prototype was obviously J. Herbert.
Considering that in the Bible, in the book of Jesus, son of Sirach (chapter 21 v. 11) there is a phrase: “The path of sinners is paved with stones, but at the end of it is the pit of hell,” it is possible that Samuel Johnson’s phrase was born on the basis of this biblical image, and the thoughts of George Herbert.
Allegorically: about good, but poorly executed intentions, which usually leads to the opposite result.

encyclopedic Dictionary winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.

See what “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” means in other dictionaries:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions popular expression in a number of languages, in particular in Russian and English. The phrase is used to refer to cases when attempts to implement the most humane and good goals lead (by ... ... Wikipedia

The road to hell is paved with good intentions- last about the undesirable or severe consequences of attempts to implement an attractive, but insufficiently thought-out plan...

road- and, m. 1) A strip of land, rolled out or specially prepared for movement, a route of communication. Dirt road. Railway. Slippery road. The road was covered with snow. I go out alone on the road; through the fog the flinty path shines... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

Hayek Friedrich von- Liberalism of Friedrich von Hayek Life and writings Friedrich August von Hayek was born in Vienna in 1899. During the First World War, as an Austrian artillery officer, he fought on the border with Italy. Returning to Vienna, he began to study... ... Western philosophy from its origins to the present day

HELL, ah, about hell, in hell, husband. 1. In religious beliefs: a place where the souls of sinners are surrendered after death eternal torment. The torment of hell (also translated). The road to hell is paved with good intentions (that good intentions are often forgotten, giving way... ... Dictionary Ozhegova

Winged words (tracing from the German Geflügelte Worte, which, in turn, is a tracing from the Greek ἔπεα πτερόεντα phrase found in Homer) is a stable phraseological unit of a figurative or aphoristic nature, included in the vocabulary from ... ... Wikipedia

- “We wanted the best, but it turned out as always” catchphrase, delivered by Viktor Chernomyrdin, Prime Minister Russian Federation On August 6, 1993, at a press conference, telling how the monetary reform of 1993 was being prepared... ... Wikipedia

Developer 2K Marin 2K Australia Digital Extremes (Multiplayer) 2K China Arkane Studios (level design assistance) Publishers ... Wikipedia

- “We wanted the best, but it turned out as always” is a phrase uttered by Viktor Chernomyrdin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation on August 6, 1993 at a press conference, describing how the 1993 monetary reform was being prepared. July 24, 1993... ...Wikipedia

Noun, m., used. compare often Morphology: (no) what? hell, what? hell, (see) what? hell, what? hell, about what? about hell and in hell 1. In various religions, hell is the place (it is generally believed that it is located somewhere deep underground) where after... ... Dmitriev's Explanatory Dictionary

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• Stealing darkness, Ksenia Bazhenova. Even several years later, Katya could not forget this nightmare: she got rid of the child at the request of his father! However, despite this, the girl, it seems, still continued to love Sergei... Stas... eBook
• Meeting over the abyss, Olga Yunyazova. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” – is this true? Or is it simply that the road to Heaven lies through thorns, which many confuse with hell? “Astrology is a pseudoscience,” Oksana thought until then...

Road to hell

An example of what a good intention to make all people equal and free has become is the communist experiment in Russia, which cost it millions of victims

The origin of the phraseological unit “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”

— One of the primary sources is considered to be an expression from the Book of Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach “” (21-11), although unlike ours it is straightforward: sinners have a “stone road to hell”
— The medieval theologian and canonized Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) said L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs -
— The English poet and philosopher George Herbert (? - 1632) in his book “Astute Judgments” (“Jacula prudentium”, 1632) repeated the phrase of St. Bernard - Hell is full of good intentions or wishes ()
— English writer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) paraphrased the thought of his predecessors - “Hell is paved with good intentions” (““)

Use of the expression in literature

*** « But it is in our power to get rid of them,” objected Bucklaw, “and I will definitely do this as soon as Lady Gernington dies.”
- Do you know the expression of the English theologian: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”? - Ravenswood noted. - Or, in other words: do we promise more often than we deliver?
“Okay,” Bucklo replied, “I’ll start from tonight.” I swear, don't drink more than a quart at a time, unless your Bordeaux turns out to be particularly tasty."(Walter Scott's "The Bride of Lemmermoor", ch. 7)

*** « I was weaned from art like a child from the breast...” He sighed. - But I’ll toss and turn and get there! - he said decisively. - Time has not passed, I’m not old yet...
Mark laughed again.
“No,” he said, “you won’t do it: where are you going!”
- Why do you know? You don't believe in intentions?..
— How not to believe: they say hell is paved with them"(I. Goncharov “Cliff”, part 2, chapter 15)

*** « The path of the commission, like the path to hell, is strewn with good intentions. The orderlies walk and, waving their arms, talk about uncleanliness, stench, proper measures and other cholera matters. The conversations are so clever that the police supervisor walking ahead of everyone suddenly becomes delighted..."(A. Chekhov “Appropriate measures”)
*** « We are sitting in a tent, although not only have we not reached the island, but, in all likelihood, we are even further away than we were yesterday. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”... The weather is foggy, at times wet snow, sometimes turning into rain"(V.I. Albanov “Diary”)

*** « Hell is paved with good intentions, and in this case good intentions do not yet save from spontaneous attraction along the “line of least resistance”, along the line of the purely bourgeois program “Credo”(V.I. Lenin. What to do? Urgent issues of our movement)

*** « In general, guys, it’s better not to mess with the party, because the road to the CPSU Central Committee is paved with good intentions; This is what the grated kal Vaxon told his new young friends in 1978"(Vasily Aksenov “Mysterious Passion”)

Variants of the formula “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” (Wikipedia)

• The path to hell is paved with good intentions
• The road to hell is paved with good intentions
• Hell is paved with good intentions
• Fifteen years of hell, which is paved with good (good) intentions
• Good intentions lead straight to hell
• Hell is full of good intentions and heaven is full of good deeds

Where does the expression “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” come from? Is it true?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

This expression is now a proverb. Its closest source is the two-volume memoir-biographical book by James Boswell (1740-1795), “Life of Samuel Johnson,” published in 1791. The author claims that S. Johnson (Johnson; 1709-1784) in 1775 said: “Hell is paved with good intentions.” The only difference is that the proverb talks about the road to hell, and S. Johnson talks about hell itself. Apparently, the author of the aphorism - an English critic, lexicographer, essayist and poet - relied on a saying made earlier by the Anglican priest and metaphysical poet George Herbert (Herbert; 1593-1633) in the book “Jacula prudentium” (Latin: “Witticisms of the Wise Men”) "): "Hell is full of good meanings and wishes" - "Hell is full of good intentions and desires."

All three statements are united by the common idea that desires and intentions alone are not enough for salvation. This is entirely consistent with patristic teaching. First of all, you must have faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). According to St. Ephraim the Syrian, “without oil the lamp will not burn; and without faith no one acquires a good thought.” There were so many utopias, radical movements, revolutionary programs, etc., in the world, the leaders and participants of which, without God and against God, relying on their fallen minds, wanted to bring “happiness” to humanity. History keeps a sad and tragic memory of this. Likewise, an individual person who is in the blindness of unbelief, wanting to fulfill his intentions, which seem good to him, often causes evil and pain to others.

Faith is necessary, but it must be correct. There can be many mistakes and misconceptions, but the truth is always one. People who are carried away by erroneous religious teachings are sure that they have good intentions, but the false spirituality in which they find themselves leads them to destruction. All religious substitutions are carried out with the participation of demonic forces.

St. John Chrysostom says: “Faith is like a strong rod and a safe harbor, delivering from errors of judgment and calming the soul in great silence.” However, the same ecumenical teacher warns: “Let us not consider faith alone to be sufficient for our salvation, but we will also take care of behavior, we will lead and best life so that both will contribute to us achieving perfection.” The Holy Fathers persistently emphasize that a Christian must have a spiritually enlightened mind. Without it, dangerous errors can occur. Reverend Anthony The Great considered reasoning to be the main virtue of a Christian:

“Reflection is the eye of the soul and its lamp, just as the eye is the lamp of the body; so if this eye is light, then the whole body (of our deeds) will be light, but if this eye is dark, then the whole body will be dark, as the Lord said in the Holy Gospel (see: Matt. 6: 22-23 ). By reasoning, a person analyzes his desires, words and deeds and retreats from all those that remove him from God. Through reasoning, he thwarts and destroys all the machinations of the enemy directed against him, correctly distinguishing between what is good and what is bad.”