Human goals are limited, and the same being to amass wealth with whatever fair or foul means he may have to employ.

FORBES: Telling the Truth

But Mr Blunkett's desperation to reduce crime by fair, foul or speculative means is understandable.

ECONOMIST: Criminal justice

However, the flawed logic suggested a bogus solution: bolster banks' capital by fair means and foul.

ECONOMIST: Situation normal | The

But whether by fair means or foul, the chancellor now appears considerably closer to meeting his budget forecast than seemed likely late last year.

ECONOMIST: But there is still reason to worry about future years

They seek to win, or at least not to lose, and so prefer to keep the conflict open, much as if they were involved in a soccer league, with matches to be won or lost each year by fair means or foul.

NEWYORKER: Booted

Its competitors resort to means fair and foul to promote their interests.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

If there is a single lesson to take away from these indictments, it is that we must always remember that human nature dictates that the invisible hand that moves markets and economies gets every nudge it can, by any means fair and foul, from anyone who can contrive to gain power over it.

FORBES: The Insider Trading Scandal: Another Black Eye for Wall Street

In the meantime, Mr Kuchma seems to reckon that if fair means will not win him the election, foul ones will have to do.

ECONOMIST: Hope for a Ukrainian recovery is ever more distant

That means extra paperwork and, in theory, penalties if they foul it up.

WSJ: When Rolling Over, Make Sure You Don't Get Squished by Costs