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drpaladin

drpaladin 116,048
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In chess, one often sacrifices pieces while pursuing a larger strategy.

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sandrewn

sandrewn 29,539
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6 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

In chess, one often sacrifices pieces while pursuing a larger strategy.

The end justifies the means?

eg:

The "means" always have an effect on the "end", so if the "end" is still worth it all things considered then yea, it's justified.

It really doesn't seem like that hard a question. Except maybe to those who think it's possible to be perfect in every decision they make.

Imagine a man has taken a classroom hostage and is killing kids one by one. You are a police sniper and can kill this man, saving the rest of the students' lives. But in doing so you have to kill the man, as a head shot is the only one presenting itself. Every few seconds of waiting, another kid dies. You have to act now. If anyone can find a good way out of this situation without having the ends justify the means, then I'd like to hear it.

 

:cowboy:

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Bill W

Bill W 63,949
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The word sacrifice comes from the Latin words sacer (sacred) and facere (to make or do), literally meaning "to make sacred".  The term passed into Old French as sacrifise during the 12th century with the same religious meaning of an offering made to a deity.  It entered the English language in the late 13th century via Middle English to describe offering a life or object to a god. By the mid-14th century, it was also used as a noun for the actual thing offered.  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word sacrifice first appeared in English during the Middle English period (1150-1500).  The noun sacrifice is recorded from around 1250 and first tracked in Kentish texts.  The verb to sacrifice is recorded from around 1290.  Originally it denoted the religious rite of killing an animal or human, or presenting grain and goods to a deity.  The term broadened to its secular meaning of giving up something valuable or dear for a higher purpose or another person in the 1590s.  

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Bill W

Bill W 63,949
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Sacrifice is vital in storytelling because it raises the stakes, reveals a character's true nature, and makes the final victory feel truly earned.  It transforms a simple plot into an emotional journey that audiences remember forever.  

Why Sacrifice Matters:  
Shows Real Value: When a character gives up something they love, want, or need, it proves to the reader how much the goal or other people matter.  
Builds Tension: Knowing a character might lose what is dear to them creates urgency and makes readers care deeply about the outcome.  
Completes Character Growth: Giving up a selfish desire for the greater good shows that a hero has truly changed and matured.  

How to Make It Work Well:  
Must Be Voluntary: A true choice requires having other options; if a character is forced with no way out, it lacks emotional weight.  
Has a Real Cost: The character should face lasting, painful consequences instead of getting a quick fix or a free reward.  
Goes Beyond Death: Sacrifice does not always mean losing a life; it can be giving up a dream, a relationship, status, or a treasured item.  

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