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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

When discussing the Fed’s independence, Miran said central bank independence is going to lead to better policy, but it’s a means to an end, not the end in itself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Frankly, it's hard not to be respectful to such committed and remarkable young people, for whom knowledge is an end in itself.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2024

"We know that it's not an end in itself, but it's a really important, much stronger foundation from which to face the uncertainties ahead, and the pressures on the budget are intensifying rather than easing."

From Reuters • Sep. 22, 2023

The search for scientific truth was never an end in itself, but a means toward attaining the wisdom necessary to achieve peace of mind.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro