beget
Related to beget: begotten
hate begets hate
proverb If you treat someone with anger, malice, or hatred, it will typically cause them to behave in a similar way to yourself or to others. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and treat people as kindly as possible, even if they've wronged me in the past. Hate only ever begets hate, after all. It just feels like people only want to attack and tear down anyone with an opposing opinion these days. But hate begets hate, and all we seem to be getting is an ever-rising sea of ill will between each other.
See also: beget, hate
kindness begets kindness
proverb If you treat someone kindly, they will likely reciprocate in a similar fashion. Maybe you should be nicer to Arthur if you want him to treat you better. Kindness begets kindness, you know. When I was a barista, it made my day when people would pay it forward. Kindness really begets kindness.
See also: beget, kindness
love begets love
proverb If you show love, kindness, and goodwill toward someone, it will typically cause them to behave in a similar way to yourself or to others. I feel like we as a people are losing the notion that love begets love these days, choosing instead to attack or criticize other people as our default reaction. I've always taken the stance that love begets love, and, in my own experience, anyway, it has always borne out to be true.
See also: beget, love
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
Love begets love.
Prov. If you behave lovingly to other people, they will behave lovingly to you. Child: I hate Tammy! She's always mean to me. Father: If you're nicer to her, maybe she'll change her ways. Love begets love.
See also: beget, love
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- teach a man to fish
- village
- it takes a village
- burnt
- a burnt child dreads the fire
- a man is judged by the company he keeps
- a man is known by the company he keeps
- bad workers always blame their tools
- better bend than break
- be what you appear to be