---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad…"
description: "\"Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom forgotten.\" — Ernie J Zelinski"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg"
---

#  Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom…

![“Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom forgotten.” quote by Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg)

> “Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom forgotten.”

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Good actions fade, but bad actions linger in memory.

**In simple terms:** Bad deeds are remembered more than good ones.

Key Takeaway

Be mindful of negative impact.

Themes

memory morality consequences

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

ethical practical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- public reputation
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

psychology of recall ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you do to ensure good deeds are recognized?
- How do you mitigate the lasting effects of a mistake?

A Different Perspective

Positive actions can be overlooked despite effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-deeds-444831/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Deeds Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds-seldom-1369157/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Good deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deeds/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembered/) [Seldom Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom-forgotten-1369159/) [Seldom Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom-remembered-1369158/)

## Related quotes

> [Hell is the consequence of your bad deeds. Start doing your good deeds from now !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/hell-is-the-consequence-of-your-bad-deeds-start-doing-your-good-deeds/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“I have taken all my good deeds and all my bad deeds, and cast them … in a heap before the Lord, and fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dickson/i-have-taken-all-my-good-deeds-and-all-my-bad-deeds-and-cast-them-in/)

[David Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dickson/)

> [I am much more afraid of my good deeds that please me than of my bad deeds that repel me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-am-much-more-afraid-of-my-good-deeds-that-please-me-than-of-my-bad/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [Ill Customs &amp; bad Advice are seldom forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/ill-customs-bad-advice-are-seldom-forgotten/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Ill customs and bad advice are seldom forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/ill-customs-and-bad-advice-are-seldom-forgotten/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Be good to others, but don't expect a lot of gratitude in this world. Remember that good deeds are seldom remembered and bad deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/be-good-to-others-but-don-t-expect-a-lot-of-gratitude-in-this-world/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/bad-deeds-and-deeds-hurtful-to-ourselves-are-easy-to-do-what-is/)

[Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/)

> [The pain is the outcome of our bad deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/the-pain-is-the-outcome-of-our-bad-deeds/)

[Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/)

> [Whosoever does not give up bad words and bad deeds, Allah has no need in that he leaves his food and his drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whosoever-does-not-give-up-bad-words-and-bad-deeds-allah-has-no-need/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The reason why cruel men persist to do bad deeds just because they don't want to lose their cruel friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jehan-fostanes-nayga/the-reason-why-cruel-men-persist-to-do-bad-deeds-just-because-they/)

[Jehan Fostanes Nayga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jehan-fostanes-nayga/)

> [Our good and bad deeds follow us almost like a shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/our-good-and-bad-deeds-follow-us-almost-like-a-shadow/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Be careful, if you do bad deeds, bad things are gonna come and bite you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica/be-careful-if-you-do-bad-deeds-bad-things-are-gonna-come-and-bite-you/)

[Monica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica/)

> [“It wasn't uncommon to hear rationalizations of this sort--the longing to transform bad deeds into good ones. No one ever wanted to hear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/it-wasn-t-uncommon-to-hear-rationalizations-of-this-sort-the-longing/)

[Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/)

> [One lives with so many bad deeds on one's conscience and some good intentions in one's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/one-lives-with-so-many-bad-deeds-on-one-s-conscience-and-some-good/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

## More by Ernie J Zelinski

> [When you need something tedious done, and don't have time for it, give it to a workaholic. This way, both of you will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/when-you-need-something-tedious-done-and-don-t-have-time-for-it-give/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Take Special Care of Yourself - Because No One Else Will!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/take-special-care-of-yourself-because-no-one-else-will/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Your prosperity will grow to the extent that you do. Your feeling of prosperity may require that you overcome the fear of leaving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/your-prosperity-will-grow-to-the-extent-that-you-do-your-feeling-of/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [If the grass on the other side of the fence is greener, try watering your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-the-grass-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-is-greener-try-watering/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Contrary to popular belief, prosperity is an emotional state that has little to do with your wealth or the state of the economy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/contrary-to-popular-belief-prosperity-is-an-emotional-state-that-has/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Unfortunately, money is more often misused and abused than used intelligently. Most people haven't figured out how to use money wisely to truly enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/unfortunately-money-is-more-often-misused-and-abused-than-used/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [There is a spiritual realm that encompasses all beings. Make friends with the angels, who will always be with you, although invisible. Make good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/there-is-a-spiritual-realm-that-encompasses-all-beings-make-friends/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [There's Insanity on Both Sides of the Debate When You Argue with an Idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/there-s-insanity-on-both-sides-of-the-debate-when-you-argue-with-an/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [If you want to retire happy, great health is important. The foundation for all happiness lies in health. Physical, mental, or spiritual health -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-you-want-to-retire-happy-great-health-is-important-the-foundation/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Understand that workaholics aren't productive people. Quite the contrary. A workaholic is someone who takes twice as much time to accomplish half as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/understand-that-workaholics-aren-t-productive-people-quite-the/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Here is a myth for you if myths are your pleasure: "There is no more opportunity in this world." Most people held this false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/here-is-a-myth-for-you-if-myths-are-your-pleasure-there-is-no-more/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Never economize on the small luxuries of life. Drinking fine wine and eating chocolate won't solve your problems - but they won't hurt either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/never-economize-on-the-small-luxuries-of-life-drinking-fine-wine-and/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [To fear retirement is to fear life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/to-fear-retirement-is-to-fear-life/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [Talking about creativity is useless if you don't do anything magical with yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/talking-about-creativity-is-useless-if-you-don-t-do-anything-magical/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

> [People who observe no limits in attempting to get work done aren't nearly as smart as they think. Hard work can be done by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/people-who-observe-no-limits-in-attempting-to-get-work-done-aren-t/)

[Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

[Explore all 120 Ernie J Zelinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/)

## More Deeds quotes

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/)

[Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/)

> [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/)

[Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/)

> [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/)

[Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/)

> [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/)

[Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/)

> [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/)

[Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/)

> [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/)

[John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/)

> [How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/)

[Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/)

> [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/)

[Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/)

> [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/)

[Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/)

> [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/)

[Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/)

> [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/)

[J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/)

> [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/)

[Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/)

[Browse all 2,029 Deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom forgotten.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernie J Zelinski"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-deeds-are-seldom-forgotten/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Deeds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-deeds-are-seldom-forgotten/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ernie-j-zelinski-3885_deeds_good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-dee_2533877.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad deeds are seldom forgotten.” — Ernie J Zelinski",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ernie J Zelinski",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Good deeds are seldom remembered; bad...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-deeds-are-seldom-forgotten/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/good-deeds-are-seldom-remembered-bad-deeds-are-seldom-forgotten/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
