As you have DONE so shall you feel

Meaning & Analysis

The direct consequence of an action will be experienced by the person who performed it; your deeds will determine your own future experiences.

Insights

Karma and Retribution

The proverb serves as a statement on cosmic justice or karma, suggesting that the universe maintains a moral balance by ensuring that individuals receive the same treatment they give to others.

Empathy Through Experience

It implies that true empathy and understanding of the impact of one's actions can only be achieved by personally experiencing the results of those actions.

Social Reciprocity

In a social context, the proverb functions as a principle of reciprocity. The way you treat others will directly influence how they, in turn, treat you.

Principle of Retributive Justice

This proverb reflects the ancient legal principle of *lex talionis* ('an eye for an eye'), a cornerstone of retributive justice in early legal codes, suggesting a societal need for proportional consequences.

Cross-Cultural Moral Tenet

The concept is a universal moral tenet, appearing as karma in Eastern religions and as divine judgment in Abrahamic traditions (e.g., 'whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap'), highlighting a global human desire for a morally ordered universe.

Psychological Implication

Psychologically, the proverb speaks to the idea that our actions shape our internal state. Malicious acts can breed guilt and anxiety, meaning one 'feels' the consequences internally, regardless of external punishment.

Rhetorical Devices

Parallelism

The balanced structure 'As you have DONE... so shall you feel' creates a memorable and impactful statement by directly linking the cause (action) with the effect (consequence).

Direct Address

The use of the second-person 'you' makes the proverb a direct and personal warning or piece of moral advice, engaging the listener directly.

Brevity and Rhythm

The proverb's concise and rhythmic quality, using simple, powerful verbs like 'done' and 'feel', makes it easy to remember and quote.

consequenceskarmajusticereciprocityempathyaccountability
Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on July 7, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

So the common prouerbe was verified, as you haue done, so shall you feele.

1568, GRAFTON, Chron. Hen. IV, I 482

Cross References

Original Scan

As you have DONE so shall you feel - a scanned entry from Tilley's 1950 Dictionary of Proverbs.
Scan courtesy of HathiTrust Digital Library.
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.

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Last updated: January 27, 2026