It is not enough that your designs, nay that your actions, are intrinsically good, you must take care they shall appear so.
Henry FieldingRead
It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Doing favors for others doesn't guarantee friendship and may lead to resentment.
This quote by Henry Fielding highlights the complex nature of human relationships, emphasizing that offering help or doing good deeds may not always lead to positive outcomes, such as friendship. Instead, it can result in enmity or resentment, as people may feel indebted or discontented, illustrating the delicate balance of social interactions and the consequences of our actions.
Themes
ObligationFriendshipEnemiesRelationshipsActions
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about the challenges of helping friends, one might cite this quote to illustrate the potential risks involved.
More from Henry Fielding
All quotes →Let no man be sorry he has done good, because others concerned with him have done evil! If a man has acted right, he has done well, though along; if wrong, the sanction of all mankind will not justify him.
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A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.
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He grew weary of this condescension, and began to treat the opinions of his wife with that haughtiuess and insolence, which none but those who deserve some contempt themselves can bestow, and those only who deserve no contempt can bear.
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Now in reality, the world has paid too great a compliment to critics, and has imagined them to be men of much greater profundity than they really are.
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It is much easier to make good men wise, than to make bad men good.
Henry FieldingRead
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