---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doing goodness is good only when you…"
description: "\"Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!\" — Mehmet Murat Ildan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg"
---

#  Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything…

![“Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!” quote by Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg)

> “Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!”

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## About This Quote

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

True goodness is selfless, performed without expectation of reward, praise, or acknowledgment, emphasizing pure altruism.

**In simple terms:** Good deeds should be unselfish.

Key Takeaway

Practice kindness without seeking thanks.

Themes

ethics altruism selflessness motivation integrity

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- volunteering
- anonymous donations
- community service
- daily acts of kindness

Key Concepts

moral philosophy psychology of giving spirituality

Questions to Reflect On

- What motivates you to help without reward?
- How can societies encourage genuine altruism?

A Different Perspective

May be unrealistic in cultures that value recognition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Doing Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-goodness-3981813/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-good-895274/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Return Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return-medal-3981814/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Thanking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanking/)

## Related quotes

> [Doing goodness, but doing goodness only is the best and the most superior religion of all the times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-but-doing-goodness-only-is-the-best-and-the-most/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [The goodness you do might fail; but keep doing it, because the real failure is never doing goodness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-goodness-you-do-might-fail-but-keep-doing-it-because-the-real/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Doing goodness creates shining; he who does goodness shines in the eyes and in the hearts of others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-creates-shining-he-who-does-goodness-shines-in-the/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Goodness is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/goodness-is-good/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [To talk goodness is not good... only to do it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/to-talk-goodness-is-not-good-only-to-do-it-is/)

[Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/)

> [“The good is twice described in the Philebus as perfect, self- sufficient and seeked by all conscious beings. And the good does not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-good-is-twice-described-in-the-philebus-as-perfect-self/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [“If we read the Gospel, we shall know the goodness of the Good News.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-read-the-gospel-we-shall-know-the-goodness-of-the-good-news/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [We can be wise from goodness and good from wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/we-can-be-wise-from-goodness-and-good-from-wisdom/)

[Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/)

> [Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness. And there must be something good first before it can be spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/goodness-is-so-to-speak-itself-badness-is-only-spoiled-goodness-and/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one's own goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/confidence-in-the-goodness-of-another-is-good-proof-of-one-s-own/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [You can be good for the mere sake of goodness; you cannot be bad for the mere sake of badness. You can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-be-good-for-the-mere-sake-of-goodness-you-cannot-be-bad-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Goodness is to do good to the deserving and love the good and hate the wicked, and not to be eager to inflict punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/goodness-is-to-do-good-to-the-deserving-and-love-the-good-and-hate/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [How can you go wrong with two people in love? If a good boy loves a good girl, good. If a good boy loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/how-can-you-go-wrong-with-two-people-in-love-if-a-good-boy-loves-a/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [The largest part of goodness is the will to become good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-largest-part-of-goodness-is-the-will-to-become-good/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [In the gates of Heaven, the war medals are nothing but the evidences of murder!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-the-gates-of-heaven-the-war-medals-are-nothing-but-the-evidences/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More by Mehmet Murat Ildan

> [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Via your talents, you can go beyond the limits!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/via-your-talents-you-can-go-beyond-the-limits/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Even in a remote monastery, you may still be remote from the truth! To find the truth, all you need is a sound way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-in-a-remote-monastery-you-may-still-be-remote-from-the-truth-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [History respects revolutions; and yet, if a revolution is progressive, support it; if it is reactionary, resist it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/history-respects-revolutions-and-yet-if-a-revolution-is-progressive/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Face the truth or the truth will face you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/face-the-truth-or-the-truth-will-face-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

[Explore all 4,007 Mehmet Murat Ildan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More Doing good quotes

> [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/)

[Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good It's mean He is shifting things around you to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christianquotes/when-things-are-going-bad-that-does-not-mean-god-has-stopped-doing/)

[ChristianQuotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christianquotes/)

> [“doing good required taking risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/doing-good-required-taking-risks/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harr/rich-and-famous-and-doing-good-mused-schlichtmann-rich-isn-t-so/)

[Jonathan Harr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harr/)

> [There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-only-one-way-of-not-hating-those-who-do-us-wrong-and-that-is/)

[Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/)

> [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [Being a good person is appreciable. But doing good things in life is what shows others who really you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-a-good-person-is-appreciable-but-doing-good-things-in-life-is/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/as-long-as-any-one-has-the-means-of-doing-good-to-his-neighbours-and/)

[Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/)

> [My mum supported me after she saw I was doing good in weightlifting, I was able to get a scholarship, I was able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/my-mum-supported-me-after-she-saw-i-was-doing-good-in-weightlifting-i/)

[Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/)

> [We've always tried to convey these strong messages of strength and power and doing good in the world and, at the same time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/we-ve-always-tried-to-convey-these-strong-messages-of-strength-and/)

[Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/)

> [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-to-preach-the-doing-of-good-things-good-deeds-are-not-to/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Even if everyone elseIs not doing good,I alone will.Even if everyone elseis doing wrong,I alone will not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/even-if-everyone-elseis-not-doing-good-i-alone-will-even-if-everyone/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

[Browse all 783 Doing good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mehmet Murat Ildan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doing good"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_doing-good_doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don_457822.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!” — Mehmet Murat Ildan",
                "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": "Mehmet Murat Ildan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Doing goodness is good only when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/doing-goodness-is-good-only-when-you-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
