---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be careful how you do one man a pleasure…"
description: "\"Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. For he who is thus slighted will not forget, but will ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/francesco-guicciardini-20043_be-careful_be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure_347589.jpg"
---

#  Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs…

![“Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. For he who is thus slighted will not forget, but will think the offence to himself the greater in that another profits by it; while he who receives the pleasure will either not remember it, or will…” quote by Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/francesco-guicciardini-20043_be-careful_be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure_347589.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/francesco-guicciardini-20043_be-careful_be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure_347589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/francesco-guicciardini-20043_be-careful_be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure_347589.jpg)

> “Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. For he who is thus slighted will not forget, but will think the offence to himself the greater in that another profits by it; while he who receives the pleasure will either not remember it, or will consider the favour done him less than it really was.”

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

## About This Quote

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

He warns that giving pleasure to one may cause pain to another, leading to lasting resentment.

**In simple terms:** Favoritism can create hidden grudges.

Key Takeaway

Treat people fairly to avoid future conflict.

Themes

fairness justice human relations

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership
- conflict resolution
- team management

Key Concepts

reciprocity social equity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can leaders mitigate unintended resentment?
- What systems ensure equitable treatment?

A Different Perspective

Hard to balance competing interests perfectly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Displeasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displeasure/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Offence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offence/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

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> [Alas! What boots it with uncessant care To tend the homely slighted Shepherd's trade, And strictly meditate the thankless muse; Were it not better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/alas-what-boots-it-with-uncessant-care-to-tend-the-homely-slighted/)

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> [I could live in a house in the sky with a golden car and have a billion dollars in the bank, and I'd still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-carter-iii/i-could-live-in-a-house-in-the-sky-with-a-golden-car-and-have-a/)

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> [You slight yourself when you're easily slighted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/you-slight-yourself-when-you-re-easily-slighted/)

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> [Not to understand a treasure's worth till time has stole away the slighted good, is cause of half the poverty we feel, and makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/not-to-understand-a-treasure-s-worth-till-time-has-stole-away-the/)

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> [There is a tonic strength, in the hour of sorrow and affliction, in escaping from the world and society and getting back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-george-jordan/there-is-a-tonic-strength-in-the-hour-of-sorrow-and-affliction-in/)

[William George Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-george-jordan/)

> [When we have been hurt, slighted, or wounded unfairly, we are not left alone to bear it. We can get on our knees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/when-we-have-been-hurt-slighted-or-wounded-unfairly-we-are-not-left/)

[Virginia H. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/)

> [God and the Doctor we alike adore But only when in danger, not before; The danger o'er, both are alike requited, God is forgotten,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/god-and-the-doctor-we-alike-adore-but-only-when-in-danger-not-before/)

[Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/)

> [I'm definitely going to bounce back, I don't doubt that one bit. The thing about this is you have to expect that when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-martin/i-m-definitely-going-to-bounce-back-i-don-t-doubt-that-one-bit-the/)

[Curtis Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-martin/)

> [Answer e-mails from junior people before more senior ones. Junior people have further to go and tend to remember who slighted them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/answer-e-mails-from-junior-people-before-more-senior-ones-junior/)

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[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [“You were very hurt at being slighted. That means you are forgetting too easily who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-josemaria-escriva/you-were-very-hurt-at-being-slighted-that-means-you-are-forgetting/)

St. Josemaria Escriva

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[LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/)

## More by Francesco Guicciardini

> [We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/)

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> [To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise ... from a fear which may afterwards turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/to-relinquish-a-present-good-through-apprehension-of-a-future-evil-is/)

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[Explore all 30 Francesco Guicciardini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

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Browse all 989 Be careful quotes

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