Crosswords2 mins ago
Good deed
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What does the phase "No good deed goes unpunished" mean?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I don't know the origin, but I've heard it used as an ironic acknowledgement that life is unfair.
It's like when I say about my dog (if I had one) "A word from me and he does as he likes!", or "It's turned out nice again!" when it's pouring with rain.
I think it was Ogden Nash who put a similar sentiment into a poem (as well as I can remember):
The rain it raineth on the just,
And on the unjust fella.
But mostly on the just because
The unjust's nicked the just's umbrella.
(I think this is a distortion of a biblical quote)
The quote is from Clare Boothe Luce (1903 - 1987), the well-known American editor, playwright and journalist. In addition, she was a Congresswoman and a US Ambassador...a lady of many parts, you might say.
The idea behind it is that - even if what you've done is praiseworthy - somebody will probably decry you for it. An example might be a 'friend' you lent money to who becomes an 'enemy' when you eventually ask for it to be returned.