--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The good or evil we confer on others very…" description: "\"The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign disposition enjoy their own acts of beneficenc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg" --- # The good or evil we confer on others very often, I… ![“The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign disposition enjoy their own acts of beneficence equally with those to whom they are done, so there are scarce any natures so entirely diabolical as to be capable of doing injuries without…” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg) > “The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign disposition enjoy their own acts of beneficence equally with those to whom they are done, so there are scarce any natures so entirely diabolical as to be capable of doing injuries without paying themselves some pangs for the ruin which they bring on their fellow-creatures.” [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good and evil actions reflect back on the actor; even malicious deeds cause personal suffering. **In simple terms:** Our deeds affect us back. Key Takeaway Consider the moral impact of actions. Themes morality reciprocity human nature Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - conflict resolution - ethical education Key Concepts ethical theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile harmful actions with self‑interest? - What safeguards prevent moral blindness? A Different Perspective Complex motives can blur moral clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Diabolical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diabolical/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) ## Related quotes > [Satire recoils whenever charged too high; round your own fame the fatal splinters fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/satire-recoils-whenever-charged-too-high-round-your-own-fame-the/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“He recoils at the sight of me. Are they suppose to do that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/he-recoils-at-the-sight-of-me-are-they-suppose-to-do-that/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Violence recoils on the violent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/violence-recoils-on-the-violent/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/revenge-at-first-though-sweet-bitter-ere-long-back-on-itself-recoils/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/though-we-may-sometimes-unintentionally-bestow-our-beneficence-on-the/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Wherever the tree of beneficence takes root, it sends forth branches beyond the sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/wherever-the-tree-of-beneficence-takes-root-it-sends-forth-branches/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [I cannot persuade myself that a beneficient and omnipotent God would have designedly created...that a cat should play with mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-cannot-persuade-myself-that-a-beneficient-and-omnipotent-god-would/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“Virtue . . . is nearly connected with the heart: I have called it Beneficence; not in the very limited sense that is generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/virtue-is-nearly-connected-with-the-heart-i-have-called-it/) [Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The state has physical power and uses it when necessary; the power of religion is love and beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-mendelssohn/the-state-has-physical-power-and-uses-it-when-necessary-the-power-of/) [Moses Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-mendelssohn/) > [To act and act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait and wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/to-act-and-act-wisely-when-the-time-for-action-comes-to-wait-and-wait/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [That is a true sentiment which makes us feel that we do not love our country less, but more, because we have laid up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/that-is-a-true-sentiment-which-makes-us-feel-that-we-do-not-love-our/) [Arthur Penrhyn Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/) > [The indescribable innocence of and beneficence of Nature,-of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter,-such health, such cheer, they afford forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-indescribable-innocence-of-and-beneficence-of-nature-of-sun-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The moral duty of man consists of imitatingthe moral goodness and beneficence of God,manifested in the creation, toward all His creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-moral-duty-of-man-consists-of-imitatingthe-moral-goodness-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Private beneficence is totally inadequate to deal with the vast numbers of the city's disinherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/private-beneficence-is-totally-inadequate-to-deal-with-the-vast/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) ## More by Henry Fielding > [“Though Jones had formerly believed himself in the very prime of youth and vigor, his first encounter with Lady Bellaston both vexed and puzzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/though-jones-had-formerly-believed-himself-in-the-very-prime-of-youth/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/adversity-is-the-trial-of-principle-without-it-a-man-hardly-knows/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The greatest part of mankind labor under one delirium or another; and Don Quixote differed from the rest, not in madness, but the species…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-greatest-part-of-mankind-labor-under-one-delirium-or-another-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/it-is-well-known-to-all-great-men-that-by-conferring-an-obligation/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [One fool at least in every married couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/one-fool-at-least-in-every-married-couple/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A lover, when he is admitted to cards, ought to be solemnly silent, and observe the motions of his mistress. He must laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-lover-when-he-is-admitted-to-cards-ought-to-be-solemnly-silent-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/if-you-make-money-your-god-it-will-plague-you-like-the-devil/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/as-a-conquered-rebellion-strengthens-a-government-or-as-health-is/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-wonder-lasts-but-nine-days-and-then-the-puppy-s-eyes-are-open/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/custom-may-lead-a-man-into-many-errors-but-it-justifies-none/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-grave-aspect-to-a-grave-character-is-of-much-more-consequence-than/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) [Explore all 246 Henry Fielding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign disposition enjoy their own acts of beneficence equally with those to whom they are done, so there are scarce any natures so entirely diabolical as to be capable of doing injuries without paying themselves some pangs for the ruin which they bring on their fellow-creatures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Fielding" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-very-often-i-believe-recoils-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-very-often-i-believe-recoils-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/henry-fielding-1358_believe_the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-ver_2933492.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign…” — Henry Fielding", "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": "Henry Fielding", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The good or evil we confer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-very-often-i-believe-recoils-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-very-often-i-believe-recoils-on/#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 } } ] } ```