ProverbMoralityJapanese origin

情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu)

Meaning: Kindness to others comes back to you in the end.

Literally: Compassion is not for another's sake (it returns to you)

Example: “困っている人を助けたら、後で自分も助けられた。情けは人の為ならずだね。” — I helped someone in trouble, and later they helped me: one good turn deserves another.

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

  • English: One good turn deserves another.
  • French: À beau jeu, beau retour (literally: Fair play, fair return)
  • Spanish: Amor con amor se paga (literally: Love is repaid with love)
  • 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: Often misread as "kindness does others no good": in a 2010 survey by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, about 46% of respondents gave that wrong reading. The narazu means "is not only for," not "is not good for."

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