--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One good deed may sometimes lead to…" description: "\"“One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is certain that an evil one will almost inevitably breed its fellow.”\" — Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg" --- # One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is… ![“One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is certain that an evil one will almost inevitably breed its fellow.” quote by Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg) > ““One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is certain that an evil one will almost inevitably breed its fellow.”” Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good deeds can spawn more good, but evil inevitably breeds more evil, creating a cycle. **In simple terms:** Good be, evil spreads; cycles persist. Key Takeaway Break the cycle of evil with intentional kindness. Themes morality cause and effect good evil cycle Mood thoughtful determined hopeful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community service - restorative justice - personal reflection Key Concepts ethical theory psychology of behavior social influence Questions to Reflect On - What actions can interrupt an evil cycle? - How does kindness ripple outward? A Different Perspective Evil may be context‑dependent, complicating simple dichotomies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good deed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deed/) ## Related quotes > [ Its \[Communism's\] unfortunate association with violence encourages a certain evil tendency in human beings. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/its-communism-s-unfortunate-association-with-violence-encourages-a/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [But the good deed, through the ages Living in historic pages, Brighter grows and gleams immortal, Unconsumed by moth or rust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/but-the-good-deed-through-the-ages-living-in-historic-pages-brighter/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [ \[In politics\] no good deed goes unpunished ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/in-politics-no-good-deed-goes-unpunished/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [The good deed you do today, for a brother or sister in need will come back to you some day, for humanity's a circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-alan-aurthur/the-good-deed-you-do-today-for-a-brother-or-sister-in-need-will-come/) [Robert Alan Aurthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-alan-aurthur/) > [The good show the way to others by their good acts.Each day passes never to return.Therefore,do good at all times,for you can never call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jainism/the-good-show-the-way-to-others-by-their-good-acts-each-day-passes/) JAINISM > [Ways of Life : The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/ways-of-life-the-smallest-good-deed-is-better-than-the-grandest/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Do not think little of any good deed, even if it is just greeting your brother with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-think-little-of-any-good-deed-even-if-it-is-just-greeting-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For even in dreams a good deed is not lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/for-even-in-dreams-a-good-deed-is-not-lost/) [Pedro Calderon de la Barca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/) > [Our everyday cares, making a living, the crazy rat race of life, often make us forget the value of a good deed. Thus, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/our-everyday-cares-making-a-living-the-crazy-rat-race-of-life-often/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [Reward will follow every good deed. Only by doing good deeds can a man know the true joy of living and have a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/reward-will-follow-every-good-deed-only-by-doing-good-deeds-can-a-man/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Talking isn't doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/talking-isn-t-doing-it-is-a-kind-of-good-deed-to-say-well-and-yet/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Steal a chicken if you get a chance, Huck, because if you don't want it, someone else does and a good deed ain't never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/steal-a-chicken-if-you-get-a-chance-huck-because-if-you-don-t-want-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A good deed is not just a duty, but above all, a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/a-good-deed-is-not-just-a-duty-but-above-all-a-privilege/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [“the best good deed is one that no one knows about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/the-best-good-deed-is-one-that-no-one-knows-about/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [One good deed will lead to thousands more of blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-good-deed-will-lead-to-thousands-more-of-blessings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford > [“In that century, a man adventuring by sea in the Mediterranean was likely to find the wheel of fortune turn full circle in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/in-that-century-a-man-adventuring-by-sea-in-the-mediterranean-was/) Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford Explore all 2 Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford quotes ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [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/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is certain that an evil one will almost inevitably breed its fellow.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-another-but-it-is-certain-that-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-another-but-it-is-certain-that-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford-8_evil_one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-anot_3122375.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One good deed may sometimes lead to another, but it is certain that an evil one will almost inevitably breed…” — Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford", "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": "Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One good deed may sometimes lead...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-another-but-it-is-certain-that-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-dusgate-selby-bradford/one-good-deed-may-sometimes-lead-to-another-but-it-is-certain-that-an/#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 } } ] } ```