Idenitfy the writer

[mguriel]

Which writer said something to the effect of "there are always negative consequences to doing good"?

[Quizmonster]

�No good deed goes unpunished' is a quote from Clare Boothe Luce, an American playwright and diplomat. She is known for her wit, which often involved saying things opposite to what had already been said or might be expected.
Here's another: 'Communism is the opiate of the intellectuals', said to counterbalance the communist Karl Marx's idea that 'Religion is the opiate of the masses'.
What she meant by the 'good deed' one was probably the idea that helping someone often leads to his resenting you rather than feeling grateful.
Another possible situation that might apply is where you may have given a local beggar some money on one occasion and now he expects you to repeat that every time he sees you. Thus, your original good deed now frequently returns to haunt you.

[marwel7]

I prefer the Klingon version,No good deed goes unpunished.

[Quizmonster]

I'm a bit puzzled, Marwel. I can't quite see what the difference is between the Luce and Klingon quotes that makes you prefer the latter!