como fin

Question

I often read Spanish text where I know all the words and can't figure out what the meaning is. For example, from "Selecciones" Citas Citables: 'Si quieres comprender la palabra felicidad, tienes que entenderla como recompensa Y no como fin. Saint-Exupery'

"Not like the end'" That doesn't make any sense. Help.

Answer 1

Antoine de Saint-Exupery is one of my favorite authors. His Wind, Sand, and Stars (about the early days of flying) is an amazing use of the English language, even though it is translated from the French (which my French friend assures me is even better).

This quote has been translated already:

"If you want to comprehend the meaning of happiness, you have to understand it as a reward and not as an end."

The key is that it is "as an end" and not "like the end."

Answer 2

here the meaning of the word fin is not end, is goal or aim. so it would say: if you want to comprehend the word happines, you have to understand it as a reward, not as a goal (or not as an aim).

Answer 3

Heidita said:

..not like a goal.

Thanx Heidita: yes, that's obviously it. Obvious when I think about it--we use "end" as "goal" or I suppose we'd say "as an end in itself"

Answer 4

..not like a goal.