"By No Means My First or Foremost Aim" — A Clarifying Turn of Phrase

it is by no means my first or foremost aim

Language: English

Definition:
A statement used to clarify that the speaker's main intention or priority lies elsewhere; that a particular goal, while possibly relevant, is neither the primary nor most important objective.

Image from I'm the Queen in This Life, written by Lefaljinf.

Usage Notes:
Often used to preface or distance oneself from a potential interpretation of motive, especially in academic, argumentative, or diplomatic contexts.

Example Sentence:

"I may criticize the policy, but it is by no means my first or foremost aim to undermine the administration."

Etymology:
Combines the emphatic negation “by no means” (meaning "not at all") with “first or foremost aim”, a formal phrase referring to primary intent or goal.

Synonyms:
not my main goal, not chiefly intended, not primarily concerned with, far from my purpose

Register:
Formal to literary

Claims of Mere Expediency: When Convenience Masquerades as Principle

Claims of Mere Expediency

Language: English
Part of Speech: Noun phrase

Definition:
Justifications based solely on practical advantage or convenience, often without regard to ethical principles or long-term values. The phrase is typically used critically, suggesting that such reasoning is superficial, opportunistic, or unprincipled.

Example Usage:

“After all,” such critics might say, “if social bonds are really based on self-interest, then ultimately you are endorsing people’s selfish actions. You’re not giving them any higher reason to treat others with respect and dignity, except claims of mere expediency.”
— Choice: Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action by Robert P. Murphy

The administration’s shifting stance on the issue was justified through claims of mere expediency, not any consistent moral position.

Etymology:
Derived from claim (a stated position or justification) and mere expediency, where expediency refers to something done for short-term benefit or convenience. The word mere underscores the lack of deeper ethical or philosophical grounding.