---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: he who begins a good deed, and does not…"
description: "\"“he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the end, brings down misfortune upon his own head.”\" — Louis Ginzberg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg"
---

#  he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the…

![“he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the end, brings down misfortune upon his own head.” quote by Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg)

> ““he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the end, brings down misfortune upon his own head.””

[Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

## About This Quote

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

A good deed left unfinished invites personal misfortune because intent without completion creates negative consequences.

**In simple terms:** Unfinished good deeds bring bad luck.

Key Takeaway

Finish what you start.

Themes

responsibility integrity consequences

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal projects
- community service
- volunteering
- habit formation

Key Concepts

Jewish ethics moral psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you ensure follow‑through on good intentions?
- What safeguards can prevent half‑finished actions?

A Different Perspective

If the deed is abandoned due to external obstacles, the moral blame may shift.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Begins Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begins-good-2259533/) [Brings Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brings-misfortune-1199063/) [Good deed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deed/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Misfortune Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-head-5890272/)

## Related quotes

> [An evil nature wielding great authority brings misfortune upon the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschines/an-evil-nature-wielding-great-authority-brings-misfortune-upon-the/)

[Aeschines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschines/)

> [“Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite of what you feel, if you grovel before what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/your-health-is-bound-to-be-affected-if-day-after-day-you-say-the/)

[Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/)

> [“It all begins with a good book”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norashikin-haslir/it-all-begins-with-a-good-book/)

[Norashikin Haslir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norashikin-haslir/)

> [Good golf begins with a good grip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hogan/good-golf-begins-with-a-good-grip/)

[Ben Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hogan/)

> [Wall Street is a place where the day begins with good buys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-fechtner/wall-street-is-a-place-where-the-day-begins-with-good-buys/)

[Leopold Fechtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-fechtner/)

> [A dynamic economy begins with a good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-taft/a-dynamic-economy-begins-with-a-good-education/)

[Bob Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-taft/)

> [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 Louis Ginzberg

> [“Noah lost his epithet "the pious" when he began to occupy himself with the growing of the vine. He became a "man of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/noah-lost-his-epithet-the-pious-when-he-began-to-occupy-himself-with/)

[Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

> [“For every species on land, excepting only the weasel, there is a corresponding species in the water,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/for-every-species-on-land-excepting-only-the-weasel-there-is-a/)

[Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

> [“The dolphins are half man and half fish; they even have sexual intercourse with human beings; therefore they are called also "sons of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/the-dolphins-are-half-man-and-half-fish-they-even-have-sexual/)

[Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

> [“But Lilith preferred this punishment to living with Adam. She takes her revenge by injuring babes—baby boys during the first night of their life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/but-lilith-preferred-this-punishment-to-living-with-adam-she-takes/)

[Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

[Explore all 5 Louis Ginzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/)

## More Good deed quotes

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jainism/)

> [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/)

> [ \[In politics\] 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/)

> [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/)

> [“Maybe my ‘good deed for the day’ should be my commitment to making that statement plural every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/maybe-my-good-deed-for-the-day-should-be-my-commitment-to-making-that/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

[Browse all 131 Good deed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the end, brings down misfortune upon his own head.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Louis Ginzberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-execute-it-to-the-end-brings/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Good deed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-execute-it-to-the-end-brings/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/louis-ginzberg-60413_good-deed_he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-e_3191869.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“he who begins a good deed, and does not execute it to the end, brings down misfortune upon his own head.” — Louis Ginzberg",
                "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": "Louis Ginzberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“he who begins a good deed,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-execute-it-to-the-end-brings/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/he-who-begins-a-good-deed-and-does-not-execute-it-to-the-end-brings/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```