Who knows what the saying 'No good deed goes unpunished' means?

Answer 1

It is a cynical twist on the original saying, "No good deed goes unnoticed." It means that if you go out of your way to do something good for someone, it always ends up hurting you in the long wrong.

Of course this is hogwash. A more accurate saying is "What goes around comes around." Those who constantly do good deeds to help others will see others return the favor for them. That has been my experience at least. I am NOT a cynical person when it comes to doing things for others without pay.

Answer 2

Mr Curious gives you the actual original saying.
This saying is just a negative of the other one.

I use Cest la Guerre instead of Cest la vie
and there are many more...

here is another of my favourites :

Smile, they said, things could get worse.
So I smiled, and sure enough, things got worse.

The ' deed goes unpunished " is very similar to
" NEVER volunteer"

Answer 3

being cynical its like you help someone get a job and they are happy for you doing so but then they complain about it later. you did a good deed but its never enough

Answer 4

I do...
it means that if you do something good,
another person is bound to tell you off, give you more work, or somehow be unappreciative....like people who don't rate such good answers as best! ;)