a good deed is its own reward

proverb

One should not expect a reward for good deeds, but should perform them merely for the satisfaction of doing so.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. One should not expect a reward for good deeds, but should perform them merely for the satisfaction of doing so.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 贈人玫瑰，手有餘香 /赠人玫瑰, 手有余香
  • 贈人玫瑰，手有餘香 /赠人玫瑰one should not expect a reward for good deeds
  • 手有余香 (zèng rén méiguī, shǒu yǒu yúxiāng)one should not expect a reward for good deeds
Finnish työ tekijäänsä kiittää
  • työ tekijäänsä kiittääone should not expect a reward for good deeds
Hebrew שכר מצווה מצווה
  • שכר מצווה מצווה (S'char mitzvah mizvah)one should not expect a reward for good deeds
Cite this entry
APA

a good deed is its own reward. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20good%20deed%20is%20its%20own%20reward

MLA

“a good deed is its own reward.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20good%20deed%20is%20its%20own%20reward. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “a good deed is its own reward,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20good%20deed%20is%20its%20own%20reward.

Source: a good deed is its own reward on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.