🙌 One Good Turn Deserves Another 💖
Definition: This adage expresses the idea that a kind action should be reciprocated with another kind action. Essentially, it underlines the value of returning favors and paying kindness forward.
Origin: The saying dates back to around 1400 and can be found in a Latin manuscript of that period. By the mid-sixteenth century, it was part of John Heywood’s proverb collection, making its mark on the list of timeless wisdom.
Synonyms:
- You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours
- Quid pro quo
- Tit for tat
- What goes around comes around
Antonyms:
- Turn the other cheek (which implies restraint instead of reciprocation)
- Eye for an eye (implying vengeance rather than kindness)
Humor-filled Quote: “Returning a favor is like paying it forward but knowing the collateral damage is shared kindness rather than liver and onions.”
Similar Expressions and their Differences:
- Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned: This means that an offended woman can be very fierce. Deals with retaliation but lacks kindness.
- Good begets good: A straightforward saying that shows goodness breeds further goodness, similar in spirit.
- Pay it forward: Encourages performing random acts of kindness for others, building an ongoing cycle of goodwill, even if it’s not directly back to the original giver.
Inspirational Uses:
- Literature: In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch’s countless kind turns inspire others.
- Books: “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, filled with real-life stories exemplifying this proverb.
- Songs: “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, a musical reminder of the bonds of mutual support and kindness.
- Movies: Pay It Forward, a film based on the concept that spreading good deeds can change the world.
Farewell Thought:
Reciprocity is the heartbeat of human connection. As we ponder the ripple effect of our good turns, remember—the echo of kindness knows no bounds. Embrace the cycle and make the world a warmer place, one favor at a time.
— Virtue Von Verse
