--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not…" description: "\"An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. Smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, the evil deed follows the fool.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/gautama-buddha-163_ashes_an-evil-deed-like-fresh-milk-does-not-go_2141569.jpg" --- # An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly… ![“An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. Smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, the evil deed follows the fool.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/gautama-buddha-163_ashes_an-evil-deed-like-fresh-milk-does-not-go_2141569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/gautama-buddha-163_ashes_an-evil-deed-like-fresh-milk-does-not-go_2141569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/gautama-buddha-163_ashes_an-evil-deed-like-fresh-milk-does-not-go_2141569.jpg) > “An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. Smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, the evil deed follows the fool.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil actions linger and spread like hidden fire, eventually consuming the foolish who ignore them. **In simple terms:** Bad deeds smolder unseen, harming the naive. Key Takeaway Avoid hidden harm, stay vigilant. Themes morality consequence awareness Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal conduct - leadership - ethical decision‑making - risk assessment Key Concepts karma latent danger Questions to Reflect On - What hidden harms exist in your life? - How can you spot smoldering issues early? A Different Perspective Some may argue intent matters more than outcome. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ## Related quotes > [Like fresh milk a bad deed does not turn at once. It follows a fool scorching him like a smouldering fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/like-fresh-milk-a-bad-deed-does-not-turn-at-once-it-follows-a-fool/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Our last deed, like the young of the land crab, wends its way to the sea of cause and effect as soon as born,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-last-deed-like-the-young-of-the-land-crab-wends-its-way-to-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Life is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/life-is-like-a-cash-register-in-that-every-account-every-thought/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“If you were Satan’s daughter, he’d be very proud but not proud enough since every evil deed you do fails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valenciya-lyons/if-you-were-satan-s-daughter-he-d-be-very-proud-but-not-proud-enough/) [Valenciya Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valenciya-lyons/) > [An evil deed is better left undone, for a man repents of it afterwards; a good deed is better done, for having done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/an-evil-deed-is-better-left-undone-for-a-man-repents-of-it-afterwards/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [“Every evil deed, every example of heartlessness in the world, stems directly from this false sense of “me” as distinct from everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/every-evil-deed-every-example-of-heartlessness-in-the-world-stems/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“What evil deed are you concocting? You’re like a Disney villainess. Destroying someone is the only thing that makes you smile like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-osburn/what-evil-deed-are-you-concocting-you-re-like-a-disney-villainess/) [Terri Osburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-osburn/) > [“The idea behind verses about the sealing of hearts appears to be the psychological law that if a person once does a good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazlur-rahman/the-idea-behind-verses-about-the-sealing-of-hearts-appears-to-be-the/) [Fazlur Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fazlur-rahman/) > [“People often do a good deed without hope of reward, but for an evil deed they always demand payment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/people-often-do-a-good-deed-without-hope-of-reward-but-for-an-evil/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Give a good deed the credit of a good motive; and give an evil deed the benefit of the doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brander-matthews/give-a-good-deed-the-credit-of-a-good-motive-and-give-an-evil-deed/) [Brander Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brander-matthews/) > [Traditional history appears to be the defacto recognition of every evil deed that failed to be stopped or eliminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagobert-d-runes/traditional-history-appears-to-be-the-defacto-recognition-of-every/) [Dagobert D. Runes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagobert-d-runes/) > [This is the curse of an evil deed, that it incites and must bring forth more evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/this-is-the-curse-of-an-evil-deed-that-it-incites-and-must-bring/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [When the evil deed, after it has become known, brings sorrow to the fool, then it destroys his bright lot, nay, it cleaves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/when-the-evil-deed-after-it-has-become-known-brings-sorrow-to-the/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [“An evil deed can be forgiven. While it may not be forgotten, the deed is not the doer, and we must be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-huff/an-evil-deed-can-be-forgiven-while-it-may-not-be-forgotten-the-deed/) [Roy Huff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-huff/) > [One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/one-should-see-the-world-and-see-himself-as-a-scale-with-an-equal/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Ashes quotes > [You can flush my ashes down the toilet, for all I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-flush-my-ashes-down-the-toilet-for-all-i-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-is-gold-does-not-glitter-not-all-those-who-wander-are-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [He said that he will never let you cry,he will always be there for you no matter how hard the situation is,that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhra/he-said-that-he-will-never-let-you-cry-he-will-always-be-there-for/) Zhra > [“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-past-is-to-be-learned-from-but-not-lived-in-we-look-back-to-claim/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [When any civilization is dust and ashes," he said, "art is all that's left over. Images, words, music. Imaginative structures. Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There is nothing quite like an Ashes trip Down Under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/there-is-nothing-quite-like-an-ashes-trip-down-under/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“When you burn a bridge, you have to be prepared to live with some ashes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coppernoll/when-you-burn-a-bridge-you-have-to-be-prepared-to-live-with-some-ashes/) [Chris Coppernoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coppernoll/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) [Browse all 900 Ashes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. 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