--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The evil you do to others you may expect…" description: "\"The evil you do to others you may expect in return.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png" --- # The evil you do to others you may expect in return. ![“The evil you do to others you may expect in return.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png) > “The evil you do to others you may expect in return.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A concise moral suggesting that harmful actions toward others often invite reciprocal harm, reflecting the principle of karmic retribution. **In simple terms:** Karmic reciprocity Key Takeaway Bad deeds invite similar return Themes ethics karma reciprocity moral lesson Mood thoughtful cautionary wise Type proverb moral When to use this quote - ethical debates - philosophical essays - character education Key Concepts proverb Practical Applications - moral teaching material - quote compilation Questions to Reflect On - Is retaliation justified when harmed? - How does this idea compare to 'do unto others'? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-expect-1146891/) [Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect/) [Expect Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-return-276643/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) ## Related quotes > [Bear with evil & expect good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/bear-with-evil-expect-good/) [Russyb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russyb/) > [Love does not expect anything in return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/love-does-not-expect-anything-in-return/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [Yes, you will. And I will warn you now that not their blood but your suspicion might build evil in them. They will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/yes-you-will-and-i-will-warn-you-now-that-not-their-blood-but-your/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We generally get the evil we expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/we-generally-get-the-evil-we-expect/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [If you treat me like an option, you should only expect the same in return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-treat-me-like-an-option-you-should-only-expect-the-same-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you truly love someone… you give everything you can and you don't expect a return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-truly-love-someone-you-give-everything-you-can-and-you-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [~When you truly love someone you give everything you can and never expect a return~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/when-you-truly-love-someone-you-give-everything-you-can-and-never/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [“My optimism is like an old cat that likes to disappear for days, but I always expect it to return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/my-optimism-is-like-an-old-cat-that-likes-to-disappear-for-days-but-i/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Give. Keep giving. And expect nothing in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-keep-giving-and-expect-nothing-in-return/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A true friend don't expect anything in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-friend-don-t-expect-anything-in-return/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Attachment comes only where we expect a return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/attachment-comes-only-where-we-expect-a-return/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [When these political action committees give money, they expect something in return other than good government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/when-these-political-action-committees-give-money-they-expect/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [To give and not expect anything in return, that is what lies at the heart of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/to-give-and-not-expect-anything-in-return-that-is-what-lies-at-the/) [Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/) > [When you truly love someone you give everything you can and expect nothing in return < 3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/when-you-truly-love-someone-you-give-everything-you-can-and-expect/) [She's\_gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she-s-gone/) > [People Say: Never Expect Anything In Return From Anyone But The Truth Is, When We Really LOVE Some One, We Naturally Expect A Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-say-never-expect-anything-in-return-from-anyone-but-the-truth/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The judge is condemned when the criminal is acquitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-judge-is-condemned-when-the-criminal-is-acquitted/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Water is so friendly when you have it on your palms, but so evil when they have you on theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/water-is-so-friendly-when-you-have-it-on-your-palms-but-so-evil-when/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) [Browse all 11,163 Evil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The evil you do to others you may expect in return.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a88/publilius-syrus-594_evil_the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect_92726.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The evil you do to others you may expect in return.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The evil you do to others...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-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 } } ] } ```