proverb · Words worth keeping
Ill got, ill spent.
Ill got, ill spent.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Resources obtained dishonestly may be used carelessly or harmfully. The repeated “ill” joins the way something is acquired to the way it is spent.
Example
Someone who takes credit for another person’s work then handles the resulting responsibility without care.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The compact pairing criticises a pattern rather than explaining every transaction. A person who disregards responsibility in obtaining something may also disregard it when using what they gained. The saying can connect a questionable beginning with a disappointing outcome, or ask whether an apparent gain is worth its moral cost. It does not prove that dishonest gains always disappear or that waste reveals a dishonest source. The actual conduct still needs to be considered rather than inferred from the rhyme.
When to use it
Use it to discuss responsibility in both acquiring and using a benefit.
Keep in mind
Dishonesty does not always bring immediate loss, and spending does not prove how resources were obtained.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English