end in itself

Idioms  

1. A purpose or goal desired for its own sake (rather than to attain something else). For example, For me, writing books is an end in itself; they don't really make that much money. This expression employs the noun end in the sense of “final cause or purpose,” a usage dating from the early 1500s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

end in itself

But I do think it’s not an end in itself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

Is college an end in itself or a means to an end?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026

I have tended to come out on the side of the principle that since the only alternative to law is raw power, the law must by necessity be an end in itself.

From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2025

In his article, O'Brien argued having a "pleasant, civilised nice place to live" was an end in itself.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2024

However, as calmness wasn't an end in itself I made an excuse at the first possible moment and got to my feet.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald