What does "The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions" mean?

[Patrick]

My parents always used that saying in order to say that you can't just say you're going to do good, you also have to do it. So "intentions aren't good enough, there must also be action".

Its the actions that actually pave the road to hell. The missing ingredient is understanding what your actions are leading to, so in other words, understanding the results/consequences.

So they should have said, you just can't say your going to do good, but you have to know that it actually is. Then do it.

This reminds me of the giving homeless drugs thread. Your intent on positive action may signify your polarity, but the actual consequences of acting on those intents is what produces karma.

I see what you mean. I think the reason it does not fly with me is that I believe we cannot know the real consequences of our actions (the whole point of veiled 3d). The only thing in our power is our intent. And so that saying, to me, means that once you have set your intent, you also have to follow through with the actions that this intent will inspire in you.

Really, what more can one do?