ProverbMoralityLatin originc. 1400

One good turn deserves another.

Meaning: Reciprocal kindness creates a cycle where helping others motivates them to help you in return.

Origin: The earliest record is in a Latin manuscript from around 1400, and John Heywood's 1546 collection has "One good turn asketh another." The Latin manus manum lavat — one hand washes the other — expresses the same give-and-take.

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

  • French: À beau jeu, beau retour (literally: Fair play, fair return)
  • Spanish: Amor con amor se paga (literally: Love is repaid with love)
  • 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)

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