What does No good deed goes unpunished. mean?

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NoxianRites

8 February

Featured answer

English (US)

Oh it's nothing to do with karma, the phrase is very pessimistic. For example, if you help someone by letting them sleep on your couch, they may end up taking advantage of your kindness and overstaying their welcome. That's the punishment for your good deed.

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NoxianRites

8 February

English (US)

It's an English idiom that means an act of kindness is bound to backfire on the person who does it. Whether that be a new emotional burden or some other way.

Soysaucetw

8 February

Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)

Thank you! But I still don't get the main idea of it. Could you please explain a bit more, like in what circumstance people would say this?

Maybe it is because my belief that doing good deeds give you rewards in terms of resolving bad karma...

NoxianRites

8 February

English (US)

Oh it's nothing to do with karma, the phrase is very pessimistic. For example, if you help someone by letting them sleep on your couch, they may end up taking advantage of your kindness and overstaying their welcome. That's the punishment for your good deed.

Soysaucetw

8 February

Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)

Oh, now I understand! Thank you! It's really a completely different angle. But it is also true in many cases.

I would consider this a reminder that you have to grow your genuine strength to be able to draw your boundary while practicing kindness. With this being said, sometimes you need to apply kindness in the disguise of cruelty.