A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1574 E. HELLOWES tr. Guevara’s Epistles 205 Hell is full of good desires. 1654 R. WHITLOCK Observations on Manners of English 203 It is a saying among Divines, that Hell is full of good Intentions, and Meanings. 1736 WESLEY Journal 10 July (1910) I. I. 246 It is a true saying, ‘Hell is paved with good intentions’. 1847 J. A. FROUDE Shadows of Clouds ix. I shall have nothing to hand in, except intentions,—what they say the road to the wrong place is paved with. 1855 H. G. BOHN Hand-Book of Proverbs 514 The road to hell is paved with good intentions. 2001 Washington Times 5 Dec. D8 (Herb & Jamaal comic strip)’I’m sorry if I made things a mess with you and Yolanda. But I’ll have you know that I had nothing but good intentions.’ ‘They say, “The road to ruin is paved with good intentions.”.. and you keep making potholes.’ ■ action and inaction; intentions

road see also there is no ROYAL road to learning.
All ROADS lead to Rome
Cf. medieval L. mille vie ducunt hominem per secula Romam, a thousand roads lead man for ever towards Rome. c 1391 CHAUCER Astrolabe Prologue 1. 40 Right as diverse pathes leden diverse folk the righte way to Rome.

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  1806 R. THOMSON tr. La Fontaine’s Fables IV XII. xxiv. All roads alike conduct to Rome. 1872 W. BLACK Strange Adventures of Phaeton vi. You know all roads lead to Rome, and they say that Oxford is half-way to Rome. 1912 J. S. HUXLEY Individual in Animal Kingdom vi. All roads lead to Rome: and even animal individuality throws a ray on human problems. 2002 Spectator 16 Feb. 21 All roads, of course, led to Rome: an expression of Rome’s control over the empire’s landscape and populace. "beginnings and endings; ways and means