--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What will matter is the good we did, not…" description: "\"What will matter is the good we did, not the good we expected others to do.\" — Elizabeth Lesser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/elizabeth-lesser-1683_expected_what-will-matter-is-the-good-we-did-not_1424849.png" --- # What will matter is the good we did, not the good we… ![“What will matter is the good we did, not the good we expected others to do.” quote by Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/elizabeth-lesser-1683_expected_what-will-matter-is-the-good-we-did-not_1424849.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/elizabeth-lesser-1683_expected_what-will-matter-is-the-good-we-did-not_1424849.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/elizabeth-lesser-1683_expected_what-will-matter-is-the-good-we-did-not_1424849.png) > “What will matter is the good we did, not the good we expected others to do.” [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True impact comes from the good we actually do, not from our expectations of others’ actions. **In simple terms:** Focus on your own good deeds. Key Takeaway Do good, not just expect it. Themes meaning action intentionality ethics self-improvement Mood inspirational motivational Type reflective practical When to use this quote - volunteering - daily kindness - community projects - personal goal setting - leadership decisions Key Concepts purpose-driven behavior altruism personal responsibility social contribution Questions to Reflect On - What good have you done today? - How do you measure the value of your actions? A Different Perspective Expectations can lead to disappointment if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-good-336554/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Good Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-did-410857/) [Good Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-expected-1521262/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-good-307044/) ## Related quotes > [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [People cannot remain good unless good is expected of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/people-cannot-remain-good-unless-good-is-expected-of-them/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [I've known Greg Berlanti from way back. I've done two shows with him, and both times, he was like, 'I've got something good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cavanagh/i-ve-known-greg-berlanti-from-way-back-i-ve-done-two-shows-with-him/) [Tom Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cavanagh/) > [“A good deed is always the right thing to do even if the person returned the good you did to them with something bad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micheline-habib/a-good-deed-is-always-the-right-thing-to-do-even-if-the-person/) [ميشلين حبيب Micheline Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micheline-habib/) > [We are all guilty of the good we did not do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-are-all-guilty-of-the-good-we-did-not-do/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“What good did it do you to be brave?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/what-good-did-it-do-you-to-be-brave/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [If the 70's freed our inhibitions, what good did it do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/if-the-70-s-freed-our-inhibitions-what-good-did-it-do/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-man-is-guilty-of-all-the-good-he-did-not-do/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“You're good, did you know that?' 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When did it happen? ..Who are you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ade-santi/why-did-you-leave-am-i-not-good-enough-where-did-you-go-when-did-it/) [Ade Santi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ade-santi/) > [Every pitcher can beat you, it doesn't matter how good you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/every-pitcher-can-beat-you-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-you-are/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) ## More by Elizabeth Lesser > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“logotherapy,” which, in a nutshell, is about searching for the meaning packed in one’s baggage, something”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/logotherapy-which-in-a-nutshell-is-about-searching-for-the-meaning/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“He was training people to become “sacred warriors”—not so that they could do battle with others but so that they could develop the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/he-was-training-people-to-become-sacred-warriors-not-so-that-they/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“Rumi tells us that moment we accept what troubles we’ve been given, the door will open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/rumi-tells-us-that-moment-we-accept-what-troubles-we-ve-been-given/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [If I pull from places of faith, joy and gratitude, then I have the wind of creativity behind me. 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