Ends and Means cont’d.

I admit I was cryptic when I asked my ends and means question. I’ll explain a bit more.

People ask the following questions:

1) Is it okay to use wrong means to achieve the right ends?
or
2) Is it okay to continue to use the right means even if they are going to achieve the wrong results?

Let’s take an example. Practising non-violence might mean that you have to look on when your family is killed.
i.e. Non-violence – right means
Your family killed – wrong ends

Or conversely – Is it okay to use violence to kill an assailant?
i.e. Violence – wrong means
You protected – right ends.

Now will someone tell me:
How do you kno? that non-violence is right? How do you know that it is wrong to use violence?
Because Gandhiji said so?

In other words, how are you going to evaluate means as right or wrong except by looking at their potential consequences, i.e ends?