One good turn deserves another
Meaning: This proverb means that when someone does you a kindness, it is appropriate to repay that kindness with another good deed. It emphasizes reciprocity, gratitude, and the importance of mutual support in relationships.
Origin: First recorded in English around the 1400s. Related to the Latin phrase manus manum lavat (“one hand washes another”), attributed to Petronius and Seneca in the 1st century AD. The English version became popular by the 17th century, appearing in William Camden’s Remaines concerning Britaine (1636).
Examples:
- She helped me with my homework, and I helped her with her chores — one good turn deserves another.
When a neighbor lends you a hand, it’s natural to return the favor — one good turn deserves another.
Vietnamese: Ở hiền gặp lành
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