ProverbMoralitySpanish origin

Amor con amor se paga

Meaning: Love and kindness are repaid in kind.

Literally: Love is repaid with love

Example: “Ella siempre lo cuidó, y ahora él la cuida a ella. Amor con amor se paga.” — She always looked after him, and now he looks after her: one good turn deserves another.

Equivalents in English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, and 4 more languages

  • English: One good turn deserves another.
  • French: À beau jeu, beau retour (literally: Fair play, fair return)
  • Japanese: 情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu) (literally: Compassion is not for another's sake (it returns to you))
  • German: Eine Hand wäscht die andere (literally: One hand washes the other)
  • Italian: Una mano lava l'altra (literally: One hand washes the other)
  • Portuguese: Uma mão lava a outra (literally: One hand washes the other)
  • Dutch: De ene hand wast de andere (literally: One hand washes the other)
  • Polish: Ręka rękę myje (literally: Hand washes hand)
  • Chinese: 礼尚往来 (Lǐ shàng wǎng lái) (literally: Courtesy calls for reciprocity)

Origin: Love is paid for with love, not with money or gifts.

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