Dictionary

do well by doing good en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

The origin is unknown; in use since the mid-20th century. Although the phrase is sometimes attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the earliest documented usage is from Tom Lehrer's 1953 novelty song "The Old Dope Peddler."

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To achieve social acceptance or financial success as a result of behaving in a benevolent or charitable manner.
   • The sanctioning doctrine of Good Works has been at hand every since Benjamin Franklin canonized the Arminian Heresy. So Cash McCall, like his patron saint, does well by doing good. 1960, Albert D. Van Nostrand, The Denatured Novel, volume 3, Bobbs-Merrill, page 170:
   • He wants companies selling Red products to make a profit by helping the poor—doing well by doing good. 2006 January 27, Matthew Bishop, “View from Davos: Bono marketing his red badge of virtue”, in telegraph.co.uk, retrieved 21 Jan 2010:
   • Ev'ry evening you will find him / Around our neighborhood / It's the old dope peddler / Doing well by doing good 1954, Tom Lehrer, “The Old Dope Peddler”, in Songs by Tom Lehrer (LP record), Lehrer Records, Track 2:
   • Of course, like most aid donors, Japan does well by doing good. 1988, John Greenwald at al., "Japan From Superrich To Superpower," Time, 4 July

Forms