BeAllandEndAll——終極目標

Be All and End All——終極目標

** the ultimate purpose, most important element, or entirety of something

~~ 一切的一切；終極目標；最終目的；唯一目標；最重要的事；關鍵所在；至高無上；全部

~~ alpha and omega; the beginning and the end; the only thing that matters; the crux of the matter; the most important thing; the whole point; the sum total; ultimate goal

!! Shakespeare wrote this phrase in Macbeth (1:7) around 1605. The ambitious Macbeth plotted with his wife to assassinate King Duncan of Scotland. Macbeth said that "this blow (the murder) might be the be-all and the end-all" -- if it could make him king without consequences in the afterlife."

莎士比亞大約在一六○五年創作了《馬克白》（第一幕第七場）中的這句話。野心勃勃的麥克白與妻子密謀暗殺蘇格蘭國王鄧肯。麥克白說，“這一擊（謀殺）或許就是一切的最終歸宿”若他能因此成為國王而不承擔死後的後果。

While the original use referred to the totality of an action (the "be-all" and "end-all" of a single blow), the phrase evolved over time. By 19th century, it had become a cliché meaning the ultimate purpose or the most important element of something.

這句話最初指一個行動的全部意義（即一擊的“最終歸宿”）。到了十九世紀，它已成為陳腔濫調，用來表示某事的最終目的或最重要的因素。

>> For many tech companies, AI has become the be-all and end-all of their business strategy -- every product, investment, and hiring decision revolves around it.

對許多科技公司而言，人工智能已成為商業策略的一切。每一項產品、投資、和招聘決定都圍繞着它。

學勤教育中心英語專科導師 李啓文 教授