We seek recompense for the good or evil we have done in time and often do not find it. But good and evil take place in the spiritual sphere outside of time, and in this sphere, even though we do not see obvious signs of this recompense, we can certainly recognize it in our conscience.
It seems that life is easy for a shameless person, a braggart, a schemer, a slanderer, an idler or one who is rude; it seems that life is difficult for the mortal who always strives towards what is pure, who is always humble, rational and selfless; but it only seems that way. The former is always anxious, the latter is always calm.
— The Dhammapada
Rush towards a good deed, even one that is insignificant, and flee from every sin, for one good deed leads to another, and one sin gives birth to more: the reward for virtue is virtue, the punishment for vice is vice.
— The Talmud
The only punishment is the knowledge that you did not make use of the great good that you could have received. Do not expect any greater punishments: nothing can be heavier than this.
You seek the cause of evil. It is only within you.
— Rousseau
What you do to others, you do to yourself. That is why every charitable deed makes you feel the goodness in yourself, and every cruel deed makes you feel spite.
— Lucy Mallory
Do good without regard to whom you do it. The good that you do does not perish, even if you forget about it.
The doing of good deeds is the only thing that is certain to do us good.
You reap what you sow. Strike, and you will suffer. Serve, and others will serve you. If you serve others in life, then no artifice can prevent you from being rewarded.
— Emerson
When you have done good to someone and this good has borne fruit, why do you care about being praised and rewarded for your good deed?
— Marcus Aurelius
Do not seek visible recompense for doing good, for it is given to you simultaneously with the deed. And do not think that just because you do not see recompense for an evil deed that it will not come. It is already within your soul. You are mistaken in attributing your spiritual pain to other causes.
