My husband and I were recently chatting about politics, and the old saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” came up. We joked about a twist on the phrase, which could be “The road to hell is garbed in good intentions.”
Hellish indeed. Especially for those who’ve lived—or died—through it.
The Story Behind the Saying
While the proverb’s origins trace back to Renaissance Europe, it certainly didn’t start out in its modern form. This adage has evolved over time, taking on different forms and interpretations.Many attribute the proverb’s beginnings to St. Bernard of Clairvaux. A 1605 letter by St. Francis de Sales to Madame de Chantal, reads: “Do not be troubled by St. Bernard’s saying that hell is full of good intentions and desires.” (Clearly this saying proved a vexing one not only to people of our day.)
From that point forward, it appeared frequently in Christian sermons and writings, which helped bring it into popular use. Clergymen Thomas Adams referenced it in 1629, George Herbert in 1640, and others did as well.
There were quite a few appearances of variations on the saying in written works after that. One of the most noteworthy was in John Ray’s 1670 “A Collection of English Proverbs.” There, the notion of hell being filled with good intentions again appeared, again without the addition of a paved road. At that time, it was published as, “Hell is full of good meanings and wishes.”
Like many old sayings, variations of “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” appears in similar forms in other languages.
Finally, by the mid-19th century, the metaphorical road found its way into the saying. It appeared in its modern form in Henry G Bohn’s “A Hand-book of Proverbs,” in 1855.
Yet, having read many appearances and iterations of the phrase, I feel that one written closer to our time may be the most eloquent of all. This is by the beloved author of the “Narnia” children’s book series, C.S. Lewis:
This insightful metaphor emphasizes the subtle, often unnoticed, descent into a less than favorable state, capturing some of the subtleties of the proverb’s meaning.
Actions Speak Louder Than Intentions
When I was a kid, my grandpa used to say, “An adult doesn’t say ‘I hope I will,’ she says, ‘I will.’” It was a great reminder. Day by day we are changing, and either getting things done or not, becoming kinder people or not, becoming more slothful or not, becoming more patient or not, and the list goes on.Certainly, living a life well is about daily choices—what we do day in, day out. Do we indulge in technology at the first urge to pick up our phone or turn on Netflix? Do we eat sweets anytime they’re placed before us? Do we descend into irritability every time a friend or family member does something that isn’t purely pleasant?
Consequences (Reality) Matter More Than Intentions
In the video mentioned earlier, Dennis Prager describes the philosophy of some people as follows: “I mean well, therefore I do good, and therefore I am good. If you oppose me, you do not mean well and cannot be good.”It’s important, he says, to consider the consequences of any position you hold, particularly on social and political matters, and ask “What does good?” He argues that one’s positions need to be grounded in wisdom.
“The road to a good world is paved with wisdom,” he observes insightfully.
For sure, well-intentioned endeavors may inadvertently lead to unintended consequences, creating challenges or exacerbating existing issues. Sadly, sometimes a do-gooder ends up doing bad.
There are many theories that may sound good, but the ultimate question is—does it “do” good? What does history tell us? What do facts tell us? What do the realities of people’s lives tell us?
Ultimately, this timeless saying, while somewhat jarring in its message, urges us to reflect on the significance of intention versus reality, on both a personal and societal level. As we traverse our life paths, let’s remain mindful of the lessons embedded in “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
